Indonesia’s authority to start ticketing violators of ride-hailing app rules

The Transportation Ministry in April will start ticketing ride-hailing drivers who violate the rules as stated in Transportation Ministerial Regulation No. 108/2018 on non-route public transportation.

The ministry will pay particular attention to drivers who do not have a driver’s license for public transportation (SIM A general) and the document that demonstrates the vehicle has passed a roadworthy test, said Transportation Ministry land road transportation director general Budi Setiyadi in Jakarta on Wednesday.

He said there was no reason for drivers to violate the rules as the government had helped them and the vehicle owners by providing cheap driver’s licenses and free roadworthy tests.

“Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi instructed me to complete the issuing [of driver’s licenses and vehicle roadworthiness documents] in March so that in April we can start ticketing [violators],” said Budi.

The ministry has started deploying officers on roads to advise ride-hailing drivers who do not have the two documents. The officers currently only issue warning tickets to the drivers.

Budi said the ministry had recorded a high demand for the two documents as the deadline was approaching. He said in Jakarta alone, 18,000 roadworthy documents for ride-hailing vehicles had been issued and about 1,000 drivers had also obtained their new driver’s licenses.