In the wake of a recent Supreme Court’s ruling which favored the consumers parking rights, Jakarta Governor Fauzi Bowo is seeking to provide motorists with more legal protection but also to increase parking fees.
“Consumers will have to pay higher parking fees in line with the insurance system to protect their vehicles,” Fauzi told reporters Wednesday in the City Hall.
He said the administration would revise the 2004 Gubernatorial Decree on parking based on the ruling. Fauzi did not elaborate.
The court ordered Tuesday PT Securindo Packatama Indonesia to pay Rp 60 million (US$6,660) to Anny R. Gultom and Hontas Tambunan, who had their vehicles stolen in a Central Jakarta shopping center parking lot managed by the company.
Jakarta Parking Agency head Benjamin Bukit said the insurance system to cover vehicle losses in parking lots had been on trial for several months in five locations — the National Monument area, Menteng and Pasar Baru (Central Jakarta) and Mayestik, Blok M (South Jakarta), Boulevard Kelapa Gading (North Jakarta).
“At the five locations, a consumer who loses a vehicle will receive compensation of Rp 40 million for a car, or Rp 2.5 million for a motorcycle [regardless of the age of the vehicles],” he explained.
As a result, he added that the parking fee at the five locations was more expensive (at Rp 3,000 for the first hour for a car) than the usual cost, which was regulated at Rp 2,000 on the first hour for a car and Rp 1,000 the following hours, while for a motorcycle it was Rp 500 for the first hour and each following hour.
Benjamin also praised the Supreme Court’s decision as an important step to improve parking services in the city. The 1999 parking bylaw does not oblige parking operators to insure all vehicles in their care.
He could not elaborate on the time line for the gubernatorial decree’s revision and its implementation.
Motorists in the city accepted the recent court’s decision with caution. They show their worry on the administration’s plan to increase the fees as a prerequisite for the insurance system.
Jiwo, 24, a marketing staff member, expressed his concern on the ruling, saying the parking fees currently already incriminated him. “If the administration plans to increase the tariffs, I will consider using public transport,” he said.
Should such a condition occur, he said the administration should provide better facilities and infrastructure for public transport users. Another motorist, Aries, 28, a salesman, has already insured his car so he sees no benefit in such a decision.
Halim, 34, a merchant who drives a car, also hoped that the city administration would not increase the fees too high because he believed the administration’s plan was a way to earn more money.
According to Benjamin, the administration has already issued 604 parking operation permits in the city. This year, the administration is targeting to increase its parking retribution income to Rp 22.4 billion from Rp 19.4 billion last year. (rch/not)
