Bisto, 36, a Cempaka Putih resident, was among motorcyclists stopped by the police during a raid around the Jakarta Fair area of Kemayoran, Central Jakarta, on Friday.

Unfortunately, Bisto’s driving license had long expired. The police officer handed over a blue ticket and entered Binto’s identity card number, ticket number and the traffic violation he had committed into a mobile app called e-tilang (e-ticket).

After entering Bisto’s data into the app, the police told Bisto he would receive an official text message citing the amount of the fine he had to pay as well as the traffic violation he was guilty of.

Bisto said he welcomed the ticketing system. “E-tilang is fine for me and it is good because I feel more certain that the money will go to the state treasury,” he told The Jakarta Post.

Bisto said he had to pay Rp 250,000 (US$19) through stateowned Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI) for driving with an expired driver’s license. Usually, the fine for such a violation stands at around Rp 100,000 and is paid after a trial at Jakarta’s courts, where judges decide the amount of the fine.

He said his vehicle registration certificate (STNK) had also been confiscated. However, if Bisto directly paid the fine, either through online or mobile banking, he could have his STNK returned to him on the spot.

Before the e-ticket system was implemented, violators had to attend a trial to take back their confiscated card or document after paying the fine decided at the trial.

Wiyono, 37, received a blue ticket and a message stating that he had to pay Rp 100,000 for not turning on his motorcycle lamp.

“E-tilang is helpful for those who need their STNKs back as soon as possible,” he said.

The implementation of the e-ticket system commenced on Dec. 30 last year, following the issuance of a 2016 Supreme Court regulation allowing traffic violators to skip trials.

As of Wednesday, data from the Jakarta police shows that 8,030 people have been ticketed using the eticket app throughout the city.

“It is important to note that even though the violators will be charged with bigger fines, they can get their money back if the judges decide on a cheaper fine,” said Jakarta Police disciplinary unit chief Comr. Sulardi on Friday.

The money will be transferred back by BRI through the violator’s bank account number, or they can visit the nearest BRI office with a copy of verdict, which can be obtained at Jakarta courts. However, not all violators have sufficient understanding of the new regulation.

Irfan, 40, whose place of work is in Kemayoran, said the police officer did not provide him with enough information about the e-ticket system.

“I kept asking to him about the ticketing process, like how do I know the verdict, how to get it and how can I get my money back,” he said.

Irfan, who is required to pay Rp 250,000 for driving with an expired driver’s license, admitted that the e-ticket system had pushed him to renew his driving license.

One of the reasons is because the e-ticket process will charge him with a bigger fine and with the same amount of money he could obtain new driving license.

“IusedtogetticketedtoobutIwent to the court and only paid around Rp 100,000,” Irfan said, adding that he did not object to the new system. The head of law enforcement at the Jakarta Police traffic unit, Adj. Sr. Comr. Budiyanto, said with the new Supreme Court regulation, trials for traffic violators had been abolished.

“Those who only get the blue ticket are still able to transfer money through BRI,” Budiyanto said.

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