Equal Before the Law?

(2/3/2013)

Bali police officials recently cracked down on cars illegally parked outside the Denpasar District Court on Jalan Sudirman in Denpasar in an area posted for no street side parking.

The 12 offending vehicles had their tires locked while police sat back and waited for the scofflaws to return to their vehicles and try to drive off.

Ketut Sriawan, the chief of traffic control from the Denpasar Transportation Office, revealed: “Most of the cars (illegally parked) were owned by lawyers trying cases before the court. As lawyers they should understand the law and give a good example to the public, not just go ahead and break the rules.”

As reported by Okezone.com, police officials were fair and impartial in enforcing the parking rules. The cars were locked and all the drivers - including the lawyers, were issued a ticket when they returned to their vehicles.

Sriawan continued: “We have reminded them repeatedly. We have even towed the cars away. But, still, they continue to park in a ‘no parking’ zone.”

Jalan Sudirman is a busy street in downtown Denpasar with illegal parking adding to traffic congestion.

The transportation department has locked the wheels on more than 50 vehicles on main protocol streets in Denpasar over the last month. Among the streets where police are using the “lock-down” procedure are Jalan Mahendradatta, Jalan Gatot Subroto, Jalan Kamboja, Jalan Hayam Wuruk, Jalan Sudirman and Jalan Sudirman.