Mobile unit: A man pays his vehicle tax at a Jakarta Police’s mobile integrated service unit in Pasar Baru, Central Jakarta. People say the mobile service offers faster service. JP/Ricky Yudhistira

Although the police force was dubbed the most bribe-riddled institution by a recent survey, some people have acknowledged improvements in the administration of police services.

Drivers said they had noticed improvements when applying for licenses or arranging renewals.

Rather than a strict adherence to its motto, “Serving and protecting the community”, the police were believed only to be ready to serve when the money was ready.

But sentiment among drivers at the Integrated Service Office (Samsat) in Daan Mogot, West Jakarta, was a little different.

“When applying for a driver’s license, service should be just like this, quick and with no extra fees,” said Ameria, a Pasar Minggu resident renewing his license at Samsat.

The driving license service is notorious for corruption. Applicants often paid officers additional charges, and calo (middlemen) benefited from applicants wanting to jump long procedural queues.   

According to procedure, licenses should only cost Rp 105,000 (US$9.12) – Rp 15,000 for a health check, Rp 75,000 for the application forms and Rp 15,000 for insurance.

Ameria said he used to spend around Rp 500,000 on a new driving license, using calo and insiders to help speed up the process.

“I am wondering how long the good service will last,” he said. “I hope it is not just because police corruption is under the public spotlight.”

Several applicants at Samsat on the same day gave similar views, saying they were satisfied with the improved services. None of them were offered brokerage services by calo.

“There are no calo here,” said Kadirin, a Samsat officer. “Every applicant should undergo normal procedures. We are ready to guide them from the first window to the next.”

Although the middlemen do not openly offer their services to applicants, they still work around the office fulfilling other jobs, ready to offer their calo services.

“When I entered the office, an officer offered to guide me through the procedure and take me to all of the windows,” said Lina, another applicant.

“He obviously asked for a fee after I received my license. I gave him Rp 20,000 and that was the only extra fee I spent.”  

The police were also praised for their mobile service for vehicle documentation.

Motorists have found the mobile service a big help in getting their ownership documents and driving licenses renewed faster and cheaper, without having to go to the Daan Mogot service center or the municipal police headquarters.

The mobile units are available in each of the city’s five municipalities, usually in strategic public spots, such as trade centers.

Each unit changes location every two weeks.

“It is much better this way, said Burhan, a Tanah Abang resident visiting a mobile unit in Lindeteves Trade Center in Glodok, West Jakarta. “It only took me about an hour to get my driving license renewed. No calo and no extra fee. I paid Rp 85,000 as it should be.”

Many Jakarta residents have found officers at police stations more responsive.

Santi, a resident, said police officers were helpful, especially for those who lost their goods.

“I lost my wallet while walking around Blok M,” he said. “I reported it to the nearest police post, and the officer gave me a letter declaring that I had lost an important document.

“It was good that I could get the letter quickly, so I could immediately go to the relevant office to renew my document.

“That was not the first time I have reported to a police post. The officers are always responsive.”

One of the most frequent public complaints about the police is that traffic police officers often pull over motorists for no reason but to try an extract bribes.

But a police officer patrolling Jl. Sudirman denied the claims.

“Want proof?” he said. “We often see private car users breaking the three-in-one rule, but we let them go. We only stop some of the cars and give them warning.”

“We also do not forbid them for using traffic jockeys.”

The public can find out information on the schedule of the mobile units by calling the Jakarta Police Traffic Management Centre on 021-527-600-104, by sending an SMS to 1717 or by accessing lantas.metro.polri.go.id.

The website also provides updated information on the traffic situation on the city’s main routes, which can also be found out by calling the police call center on 112.

The call center, which is accessible both from mobile phones and fixed lines, was part of the National Police’s newly launched reform program called Quick Wins.

The aim of the program was to speed up response time to public complaints and to boost transparency in criminal investigations.

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