Makassar Polrestabes Affirms Ban On Civilians Using Siren Strobo

Makassar Police Traffic Unit Head AKBP Amin Toha reiterated that civil society is prohibited from using sirens or strobe lights because they are prohibited from being used freely and their designation is clear in statutory regulations.

"Please, especially since the vehicle does not have to use sirens or similar lights, so as not to disturb other road users," said AKBP Amin as quoted by ANTARA, Friday, August 11.

Based on Law Regulation Number 22 of 20009 in Article 59 paragraph (5) the use of signal lights or strobes, rotors, and sirens has been regulated as referred to in paragraph (1) and paragraph (2).

It was stated that the blue signal lights and sirens were used for cars by Indonesian National Police (Polri) officers. The red signal and siren lights are used for prisoner cars, escort for the Indonesian National Army (TNI), firefighters, ambulances, red bars, and bodies.

And, yellow signal lights without sirens are used for toll road patrol cars, supervision of traffic and road transportation facilities, maintenance and cleaning of public facilities, tow vehicles and special goods transportation.

If the violator uses it in a vehicle and not its designation, then it can be subject to criminal provisions in accordance with article 278 paragraph (4) of Law number 22 of 2009 concerning Road Traffic and Transportation.

It is stated that anyone driving a motorized vehicle on a road that violates the provisions regarding the use or main rights of vehicles that use warning tools with sounds and rays as referred to in article 59, article 106 paragraph (4) letter f, or article 134 shall be punished with a maximum imprisonment of one month or a fine of IDR 250 thousand.

"For the community, especially our young teenagers who are young for traffic order, respect, obey traffic rules. Real safety is not for yourself but for other road users," he stressed.

Previously, a viral video recorded an accident on Jalan Urip Sumoharjo when a motorcyclist riding a motorcycle fell on the highway and was almost hit by another car allegedly shocked when he heard the sound of a rotor and a stobo light that the driver sounded.

It was later discovered that the Mitsubishi Pajero driver was identified with the police number DD 904, which is an operational vehicle for the South Sulawesi DPRD leadership driven by Muh Irfan Fauzan Erbe, the son of the Deputy Chairman of the South Sulawesi DPRD Ni'matullah Erbe.

In the viral video, the incident on Saturday night, August 5, 2023, was seen recklessly at a high enough speed insisting on overtaking the vehicle on the right by sounding the rotor and the strobe lights shocked other drivers.

As a result, several motorcyclists at that time were in a lot of shock, one of whom fell and was almost hit by another car, even though the vehicle used in question did not crash, but was chased by the motorcyclist who recorded the action.

Ni'matullah Erbe's father argued that at that time his son was in a hurry because he was told to go home after buying yellow rice, and the car he was using was not without his knowledge.

After the video went viral, the Makassar Police Traffic Unit moved and detained the vehicle on Monday, August 7, 2023, while the driver was not detained but was only subject to a ticket.