Car owners in Jakarta will soon find an easier way to pay their vehicle taxes as the City Police are now gearing up for a drive-through service for vehicle tax payments.
Head of the vehicle ownership and tax unit of the city police Comr. Bonaparte Silalahi said the city's newest tax payment method would be launched after Idul Fitri.
"We are finishing the computer system and linking it to Jakarta's vehicle database," he said.
The West Java Police and East Java Police departments have operated their drive-through services for vehicle tax payment since last year.
For Jakarta the "SAMSAT drive thru" will be located at the Jakarta Police Headquarters complex on Jl. Jend. Sudirman.
"The drive-through service will emulate that of McDonald's or Starbucks," Silalahi said.
Car owners will find a "Drive Thru" arrow sign at the city police's entrance gate. The arrow points to a route towards the facility, which is 100 meters from the gate.
The building has two counter windows. At the first window, the officer will ask the car owner to hand over all the required documents, such as the identity card as well as the vehicle ownership document and book (STNK and BPKB).
Once the officer announces that the documents are valid, he or she will ask the vehicle owners to sign a registration form. The car then moves forward five meters to reach the cashier at the second window.
The officer puts the vehicle's data into a computer and the amount of tax will appear right away. The car owner is also able to see the bills and fines from a flat monitor hung on the ceiling near the second window.
"Pay the bill and you will get the receipt. That's it, and you can go home," Silalahi said.
He said the whole process would take less than 10 minutes.
"And you don't even have to leave your car. You can stay in your air-conditioned car and enjoy your music while queuing."
In addition, he said, the drive-through service would definitely cut the access of the middleman or calo.
"Unless you let the calo drive your car and queue to the facility," Silalahi said, laughing.
Practices of calo is common in Indonesia, including at Samsat. They offer a quicker service with additional charges. Although some might find them helpful, others find calo annoying and an obstacle to clean bureaucracy.
The drive-through service will open during office hours, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m, Monday to Friday. Only annual vehicle tax payment is accepted.
"The facility currently accepts only private cars. Those who own motorcycles and public vehicles will still have to use the conventional tax payment method," Silalahi said.
Deputy Chief of City Police traffic division Adj. Sr. Comr. Yaya Ahmudianto said Jakarta's Samsat accepts 400 vehicle tax payments and STNK registration extensions a day. The four mobile Samsat service centers accept 150 vehicle tax payments and STNK extentions daily. (bbs)
