TheJakartaPost
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Welcome e-ticketing
Thanks to advancements in technology, gone now is the chance of monkey business on the street between motorists and officers, which for so many years undermined the enforcement of — and thus discouraged compliance with — the Traffic Law.
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A police officer monitors the traffic flow through CCTV networks in Traffic Management Center, Polda Metro Jaya, Jakarta on Monday July 1, 2019. Traffic Directorate of Metro Jaya Regional Police (Polda Metro Jaya) start to implementing electronic ticketing (e-ticketing) for traffic violators through the Electronic Traffic Law Enforcement (ETLE) system. (JP/Dhoni Setiawan)
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hanks to advancements in technology, gone now is the chance of monkey business on the street between motorists and officers, which for so many years undermined the enforcement of — and thus discouraged compliance with — the Traffic Law. As of Monday, traffic offenders in certain areas across Jakarta can no longer bend the law by bribing police officers, as machines will handle their cases in a quick and transparent way.
As part of the electronic traffic law enforcement (ETLE) system, or e-ticketing, upgrade, the Jakarta Police have installed 12 high-definition CCTV cameras in 10 locations across Central Jakarta to detect traffic violations. The new system boasts three primary features, namely an automatic number plate recognition camera, a checkpoint camera and a speed radar, which can capture a vehicle cabin in detail, including the driver’s face and whether he or she is using a smartphone while driving, not wearing a seatbelt or speeding.
The police will analyze the captured footage before referring to a database of vehicle owners. A ticket will be sent to the address stated on the alleged violator’s vehicle registration document (STNK), along with a photo of the offense as evidence. Alleged violators must respond to the police or on the ETLE website within seven days. A final ticket will be sent, notifying the amount of the fine that must be settled in seven days or else the police will block the owner’s STNK.
No human-to-human contact is involved, therefore giving no room for bribery or extortion. The new system surely deserves our support as it aims to create a law abiding environment on the streets.
The Jakarta Police claim the new system has borne fruit immediately, as evinced in the decline of traffic violations by up to 100 percent in areas where the cameras are in place. The new system has been proven to deter motorists from breaking the traffic rules.
While we need to perfect the system through innovations, we regret the fact that it has come too late. Our neighbors near and far implemented the technology long before its arrival here. That said, traffic regulators must move fast, first and foremost by applying the technology in more areas across the capital, known for its notorious congestion from Monday to Saturday. If necessary, ETLE should be made mandatory across the country, when the budget permits.
The Jakarta government plans to install over 80 cameras in 37 locations across the capital later this year as part of its campaign to bring order back to the streets. When enforcement is entrusted to machines, the Jakarta Police can focus on security and traffic management.
To make sure the new system works well, the police will need a reliable and accurate database of vehicles and driver license holders, including their phone numbers, home and email addresses. This will require updates, which is why motorists must report to the traffic police when they change phone numbers or relocate.
The ultimate goal of any traffic policy and technology is surely instilling traffic discipline and safety in driving, thus preventing unnecessary fatalities on our streets.
