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LIPPO CIKARANG - Not the first time and most likely also not the last time that I was 'aught in a 'trap' when on the road. This means that all motorcyclists are stopped by police to check their paperwork. Drivers of motorcycles should always bring a valid STNK ('license plate registration') and SIM C ('driving license for motorcycles') with them.
It is a common check that is organized almost on a daily basis on several locations but every single time entire villages of people are not following the rules so they have to pay op for it. One of the favorite points of these checks is on the road that is the main entrance to Lippo Cikarang, because many people pass by during rush-hour. Several dozen policemen are spread out in between two-lane traffic to direct the motorcyclists to the left side of the road.
Officers are all over the road when they are checking motorcyclists to prevent them from slipping away in between traffic. This slows down traffic dramatically and is a clear sign for those that come later on to turn around directly to avoid being netted. Motorcyclists that pass by earlier on are less fortunate. But if you have your papers with you it takes a mere minute to be checked, two for the average Indonesian because they seem to hide their papers under three layers of clothing folded in their underpants.
Last week it was my turn to be stopped here as well. I had all papers with me and wore a standard helmet as well. That is what they check on, and if you comply the policeman stopping you will not make it too difficult and let you go after your papers are checked. If you don't comply, that extra third passenger, a missing spion ('mirror') or a non-official license plate could become a problem all of a sudden.
I was snagged at as if I were an Indonesian when I was stopped and ordered to go to the left side of the road. That kind of behavior against foreigners is rare, very rare. Fortunately I could understand the situation since he could only see I was a foreigner when I opened my helmet. From that moment the conversation continued in a much more polite fashion, in which the policeman steps down from his invisible throne.
Whether I brought my driving license and license plate registration. Of course I did. Earlier this year I drove around with an international driving license that I extended myself, but when I was in the Netherlands earlier this year I also obtained a new - valid - one. Put in a plastic cover it was under my jok ('seat of the motorcycle'). I removed the plastic and handed over the paper booklet, together with my STNK, still valid for another three weeks.
After a minute or so of serious looking he was still asking himself what he was missing. He found out soon enough when I opened the back page of the booklet, showing my photograph and personal details. He was not able to find it himself and was about to walk away to ask a colleague. Not to slow down the entire process I decided to help him a little. "How much did he pay to become police," I asked myself. Things like that are best kept to yourself, even if you were talked to like an Indonesian.
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