Bali police will now stop not only motorbike riders but also motorists. Previously, they focused on catching those driving without a license and helmet, but now attention is drawn to tourism taxis. Initial selective checks showed that many drivers operate without licenses.
The Bali Transport Authority (Dishub Bali), in cooperation with the police, now conducts road raids across the island, checking those involved in tourist transportation. They focus on stopping minivans and taxis in the most popular areas of the island: Kuta, Nusa Dua, Canggu, Uluwatu, Legian, and Seminyak.
This is a governor's program planned for at least a month, although 20 violations were identified on the first day of checks.
Nyoman Sunarya, head of the transport authority division, reported that fines were issued for the absence of a license (10 cases), expired vehicle documents (6 cases), and goods transport violations (4 cases).
Additionally, inspectors noted private cars that effectively function as taxis without official registration. These motorists transport tourists and receive payment but lack permits, insurance, and registration as tourist transportation.
This poses a safety threat, particularly for foreign guests, say transport authority staff. In case of an accident or dispute, a tourist is left without recourse — such 'taxis' have no legal obligations. Usually, these transfers cost less than average, with tourists finding them on social media and arranging directly with drivers in messengers.
The new raids aim to make tourist transport safer and more lawful. Inspectors do not aim to immediately stop the operations of violators — on the contrary, they allow them to complete the journey, especially if the driver is already with passengers. Therefore, tourists need not worry; the checks won't take too much time and will not impact the speed of travel across the island.
It's implied that after completing the trip, a violating driver must promptly put documents in order and obtain a license if necessary.
Foreign motorists have been warned that they may also be subject to random checks. Therefore, when driving on the island, it is important to have all necessary vehicle documents (STNK, insurance) and of course, a driver's license of the required category.
Sources: Antara, planetmerdeka
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