Ever since Jakarta’s odd-even traffic rule (which only allows vehicles with odd-numbered plates to use certain major roads during rush hours on odd calendar dates and vice-versa) was implemented, some sneaky Jakartans have employed the old license plate switcheroo method to trick traffic police — though not all have been successful.
Recently, a video showing a new, more practical way of switching license plates went viral. It involves a mechanical contraption that flips between two license plates automatically (though it seems the plates used in the video were only for demonstration purposes as both end in even numbers).
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bm7t80vHnWU/?taken-by=uptodateinfo
We’re certainly not implying that you should seek out this, admittedly, ingenious new technology because it’s absolutely illegal. Besides, the police have now been made aware of the viral video and said they are nipping it in the bud before it gets too widespread.
“We are coordinating with the Crime Investigation Unit, that kind of fraud can lead to arrests. We are monitoring it. There’s information that [the video was taken in] Palmerah or Slipi,” Jakarta Traffic Police Chief Yusuf told reporters yesterday, as quoted by Kompas.
However, Yusuf said that the police haven’t yet found an actual automatic license plate switcher on the road and that those who have been caught switching their license plates did so manually.
Motorists who violate the odd-even rule is may be fined up to IDR500K (US$34). Those who are caught committing license plate fraud may be fined a further IDR500K.
