FRIDAY, March 29, 2024
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Litterbugs to be fined or imprisoned in Bandung

Litterbugs to be fined or imprisoned in Bandung

Watch out litterbugs: Bandung Mayor Ridwan Kamil will impose fines for littering starting on Monday.

Over the past nine years, a bylaw on public order, cleanliness and beauty and a regulation which controls the fines and guidelines, remained toothless as nobody got punished for illegal littering. 
“The problem in Bandung is the people’s mind-set. People are used to breaking the law,” Ridwan said over the weekend.
Litterbugs and cars that are not equipped with waste bins will be fined 250,000 rupiah (Bt670) and those caught breaking garbage bins or burning garbage in places at risk of fire will face fines of 1 million rupiah. Those who dump garbage in the river or gutter could be fined 5 million rupiah.
“Singapore was clean in the 1970s, since it imposed fines for various [cleanliness] violations. We are forced to enter such an era in Bandung,” Ridwan said.
The bylaw regulates 68 offences and issues penalties ranging from 250,000 rupiah to 50 million rupiah or three months in jail. 
The Public Order Agency will be responsible for enforcing the bylaw. Residents can also file a report with the agency.
Bandung Public Order Police Unit Enforcement Affairs head Teddy Wirakusumah said his men would be authorised to confiscate violators’ identity cards until they settle the fines, which would go to the city’s treasury. Violators can also choose to settle the fines in a speedy trial for light offences, which is locally called a tipiring trial. 
“Violators must settle fines for the misdemeanors to get their ID cards returned. If they fail to pay the fines, they can be imprisoned,” Teddy said. 
Mega Dwi Anggraeni, 30, of Santosa Asih in Rancasari district, applauded the plan to enforce the bylaw, especially because it imposed heavy fines for dumping garbage in the river. However, she could not accept the obligation to have a trash bin in a car. 
“The most surprising thing was that the absence of a trash bin in a car would be penalised. It’s the individual right of each person. The most important is people’s awareness,” said Mega.
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