The police corps' Director of Registration and Identification, Brigadier General Yusri Yunus, stated that the special plates under the old regulation have been phased out since October 2022.
"From October 10, 2022, the (special registration plates) extension has been stopped, and no more new applications will be approved. It will be over by 2023," Yunus stated at a press conference at the Police Headquarters here Thursday.
The brigadier general explained that Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo authorized terminating the use of special plates following public uproar on misbehavior and arrogance of drivers whose vehicles bear special plates.
Moreover, the secret plates -- those with QH and IR-coded plates -- have also been phased out due to the codes having been public knowledge, he stated.
"Hence, we decide to change the arrangement, according to Police Regulation No. 7 of 2021," Yunus noted.
The new regulation directs that special and secret plates would no longer be issued by province-level police units, as the process will be centralized with the Police's Traffic Corps that will only issue the plates after a thorough examination.
Meanwhile, only official vehicles belonging to echelon I- and II-level officials are allowed to use the special vehicle plates, and personal vehicles would no longer be eligible, he stated.
"I will resume the issuance (of special and secret plates) earlier next month, yet I have restricted its use. We will only issue the plate for official vehicles for echelon I- and II-level officials," the brigadier general expounded.
Yunus said that regulations on special plates must be revamped to deter abuse of special plates by unauthorized individuals.
"(The special plates) have been abused, as ordinary civilians could also use the special plates. In future, it will no longer occur, as (the plates) will be authorized only for official vehicles," he remarked.
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Translator: Laily Rahmawaty, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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