TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Many residents who were netted during the illegal parking sweep were unaware of Jakarta's government new policy of imposing a Rp 500,000 fine to curb illegal parking, which came into effect on Monday, September 8, 2014. Wandi Supriandi, a truck driver, was among those who felt left in the dark over this new policy.

"I was wondering what was going on, when I realized that they are towing my truck," said the surprised 51-years old driver at Jl. Akses Marunda on Monday, September 8, 2014.

Doni, another driver, expressed his concern, saying that he was forced to park on the hard shoulder because there was not enough parking at the parking lot. "Where else should I park? I can't enter the parking lot," said Doni.

Wandi and Doni could only watch when their vehicles were towed away by the Jakarta Transport Authorities to the impound. To get the car out of the impound, they would be required to pay Rp 500,000. "I don't know how the process works. Maybe someone else will sort it out, I don't know," said Wandi.

Aditia Hendrawan, a driver who was caught in a sweep at Jl. Kebon Kacang, Central Jakarta, said that Jakarta Transport Authorities did not really think this through. "They can't just start towing cars away. They need to let the public know that they're cracking down on illegal parking," he said.

Aditia claims that he does not know that the authorities are going to begin enforcing the rule. "I was wondering why the streets were clear this morning. Usually people would park on the streets," he said.

Initially, he refused to pay the Rp 500,000 fine because he was not aware about the entire setup. "I need to talk with the Transport Authorities first, I won't just pay up without knowing the proper procedure. Once I'm satisfied, I'll pay the fine," said Aditia to Tempo, after he was told how to get his car out of the pound.

Previously, the chief of operations at Jakarta's Transport Ministry Syafrin Liputa, said that socialization of the new regulation had been done a week in advance. "People who came to complain usually are not residents of Central Jakarta, or even, Jakarta. We will continue to revise out methods until a deterrent effect can be seen," he said.

The head of Jakarta's Transport Authority Muhammad Akbar, said that the localized fines for illegal parkings will come into effect starting today, September 8, 2014. The sweeps today are joint efforts between the Transport Authorities and the police.

"We are beginning with five spots that are notoriously jammed because of illegal parkings," said Akbar. Vehicles that are impounded during the sweep are stored at the Transport Authority's pound. Owners would have to pay a Rp 500,000 fine to get their cars back, and failure to do so immediately would result in additional fines of Rp 500,000 per day.

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