Quote:
Originally Posted by Yokosi
Be vigilant if you are on a taxi that's heading towards Kota, after Maliaboro Hotel along Jalan Hayam Wuruf as last night as i was caught in a Police road check.At around 4.30 am ( local time ), After leaving Maliaboro Hotel disco/ club and seeing a friend gets in another taxi, that went towards South Jakarta. Got to send him off as he no speak Bahasa Indonesia. I went into another taxi that took me towards Kota. In less than 3 minutes, taxi was stopped by corrupted police who nicely only stopped taxis and young drivers in their cars. They never stopped motorbikers.
Police asked me for identity card ( passport ). They never check for drugs, drunken passengers, etc.
Of course, passport was in my room's deposit box. Once they saw my non Indonesian I.D. and when they knew that my passport was safely kept away. They asked for " sila minta bantuan " or asked for assistance. Big fat deal !. I paid off corrupted police in Bangkok, in Malaysia many times.
Taxi driver was afraid that i have no cash after enjoying Maliaboro Hotel disco and club. And that the police would ask for a huge amount that i was unable to pay. Gave the police " lima ratus ribu rupiah " and he readily accepted the money and gave me my I.D. back. When my taxi moved away, i saw a dozen taxis stopped on the road with police at the passengers windows.
Be humble in such police road blocks. Never fight or argue with them. Better, if you know what they wanted ( if you understand what they are saying ). And if you got no passport, please ask what they need. And pay them off in a small way.
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Just want to share my experience with the cops.
I was stopped last night in Ancol on the way back from Alexis to my hotel in Kota. They asked for my passport (which of course I did not carry with me). They then went on to say that it's a serious offence for foreigners not to carry around their passport with them while in Jakarta and told me I could either pay them Rp 300k to make the problem go away or follow them back to the police station.
After much pleading I told them I did not have so much Rp on me and so that I would follow them back to the station. The discussion went on for about 10 mins after which they relented and let me off with a warning.
I must also add that at no time were they hostile or aggressive, if fact they were actually quite friendly, in a rather corrupt sort of way!. I agree with Bro Yokosi with his advice. Keep cool and don't be aggressive. Be polite and plead ignorance and they might just let you of the hook.
Additionally, as inconvenient as it is, you may want to consider carrying around your passport if you are traveling around late at night in Jakarta if you want to avoid such run ins with the law.