T

raffic regulation violators will no longer be able to escape fines with the Jakarta Police preparing surveillance cameras to ticket violators as part of a system that will be implemented in a trial run on Jl. MH Thamrin and Jl. Sudirman, starting Oct. 1.

The police’s traffic directorate is set to install four cameras along the main roads that can capture vehicle license plate numbers.

The cameras, which will operate 24 hours a day, will be connected to the Jakarta Police’s Traffic Management Center (TMC), so that it can automatically identify vehicle owners. The police will send the tickets to the violators’ houses based on the evidence.

The police’s traffic director, Sr. Comr. Yusuf, has said the Electronic Traffic Law Enforcement (E-TLE) will be enforced to promote orderly traffic.

Up until now, many motorists only comply with traffic regulations when they see traffic police around, he added.

The police, who have been planning the implementation of the system for five years, had learned of the positive results of similar systems implemented in other countries, such as Singapore, China and England, Yusuf said.

In the long-term, Yusuf said the system would also reduce the duties of traffic police, as they would no longer have to monitor traffic on the streets.

“The camera will capture the license plate numbers of drivers who violate traffic regulations, such as by running traffic lights and not complying with the odd-even license plate policy,” Yusuf said on Tuesday.

The police will then send the tickets to the violators’ houses through the state postal service .

With plans to eventually implement the system on all roads in Jakarta, police will first focus on Jl. Sudirman and Jl. MH Thamrin.

The motorcyclists will be handed a maximum fine of Rp 500,000 (US$ 33) that shall be paid within 14 days through bank accounts requested by the police.

“If the motorists don’t pay the fines, we will suspend their STNK [vehicle registration documents]. They won’t be able to pay the STNK tax if they haven’t paid the fines,” Yusuf added.

Further, the police will require motorists to state their email address and mobile phone numbers on the vehicle ownership documents (BPKB). The data would be vital to support the implementation of the policy, he said.

Jakarta Transportation Agency head Andri Yansyah said the Jakarta administration supported the plan.

The administration and police would then evaluate the trial run to determine what could be improved to make the policy more effective, Andri added.

“After implementing the E-TLE, we will improve electronic registration identification and implement electronic road pricing,” Andri said.

A motorcyclist, Oki Akbar, 29, a resident of Lenteng Agung working in Gambir, Central Jakarta, said he supported the plan. He said he believed the number of traffic violations would decrease following the implementation of the system.

“Currently, the streets are so unsafe, especially with a lot of app-based ojek [motorcycle taxi] drivers ignoring traffic regulations,” Oki said.

Another motorcyclist, Gangsar Parikesit, 29, a resident of Mampang Prapatan, South Jakarta, echoed the statement.

He said with the electronic system, motorists would be held accountable. Sometimes violators pay officers directly and it is unclear whether the money goes to the state, Gangsar said.

Jakarta Transportation Council head Iskandar Abubakar said the system would not only encourage motorists to be more disciplined but it might also reduce the number of traffic accidents and ease traffic congestion, which were often caused by traffic violations.

Motorists will drive more responsibly when they know that they are being monitored by cameras, he said.

“The most important thing is that police ensure all violators pay the fines, as regulated,” Iskandar said.

The police and the administration should also install cameras on other roads besides Jl. MH Thamrin and Jl. Sudirman so all motorists obey traffic regulations, he said.