Jakarta Govt To Impose Sanctions On Cheap Cars Parked Illegally

Jakarta, Sept 24 (Antara) - The DKI Jakarta Provincial Government (DKI Jakarta) will impose sanctions on cheap cars parked illegally and tow away the vehicles. "In anticipation of an increase in the ownership of private vehicles in Jakarta, especially cheap cars, we must impose strict punishment on traffic violators," said Deputy Governor of DKI Jakarta Tjahaja Basuki Purnama at City Hall, Central Jakarta, on Tuesday. Deputy Governor Purnama added that the city government is facing a dilemma with regard to the cheap cars (Low Cost Green Car/LCGC) policy recently implemented by the central government. "On one hand, we are pleased that the policy will promote entrepreneurship and production of automotive spare parts in Indonesia because components of the cheap car are local-made," said Purnama, known as Ahok. On the other hand, as a result of the cheap cars policy, the city government must wrestle with the problem of traffic congestion due to an increase in the number of private vehicles. "Therefore, we have the right to restrict the usage of motor vehicles with a wide range of policies, including even-odd license plates policies, pay road system or the Electronic Road Pricing (ERP), and parking zoning system," said Purnama. Moreover, the city government plans to raise taxes on motor vehicles progressively and impose sanctions on homes that do not have a garage, forcing drivers to park their cars on the side of the road. "We do not have the right to prohibit people who want to buy a cheap car, but we can regulate its usage. If this is not managed properly, Jakarta`s traffic congestion would become worse than it is now," noted Purnama.