Unraveling The Root Of The Problem Of The Proliferation Of Illegal Parking Lot

Parking attendant illustration (Unsplash/am)

JAKARTA - The phenomenon of the proliferation of parking attendants is being discussed on Twitter social media. The pros and cons have emerged. Maybe people basically don't deny the existence of parking attendants as long as it's more clearly regulated by the local government and doesn't take a "blind salary."

The owner of the Twitter account @RDNADN shared a photo of a banner in one of the minimarkets that read: FREE PARKING. The banner also suggests that if consumers feel disadvantaged if someone asks for parking money, they are welcome to report to the police, complete with articles that can ensnare the parking attendant. Suddenly the post went viral.

"Especially for consumers, if someone asks for parking money and you feel aggrieved, please report Article 368-371 of the Criminal Code to the nearest Polsek," as written on the banner photo uploaded by @RDNADN.

Hopefully many other Indomarets will imitate and apply them 👍 @Indomaret pic.twitter.com/MjGRZsYehJ

— RDN (@RDNADN) October 26, 2021

There are pros and cons. Many support the minimarket policy to no longer pay for parking. Because not a few residents complain to illegal parking attendants who don't work but want to be given money.

The owner of the account @MyNotJamil for example. He said that one day he visited a mini market near his house to take money from an ATM. When he left the place and tried not to give the parking attendant money because he had no change, he got protested.

"How about it, he's also there looking at the motorbike or not, doesn't help pull the motorbike, doesn't help cross it. He's just busy playing with his cellphone, so the parked motorbike is ignored and forced to pay," he complained.

The same is also complained of @putherrr. He said he always chooses a mini market that has no parking attendant, so he doesn't grumble in his heart because of only two thousand rupiah. "It's also hard to be sincere, don't you mark it... suddenly blocking the way home hahaha."

Even so, not a few also feel no problem with the presence of illegal parking attendants. Not even a few who feel helped by their existence.

The owner of the @babanana account, for example, admitted that he had no problem with illegal parking attendants. "As long as he looks like he's working, help pull the motorbike, stop the vehicle from the opposite direction when crossing."

Social bumpers?

Interestingly, there is one person who thinks that illegal parking attendants are a social bumper. That opinion came from @arfibambani. This means, according to him, giving them one thousand two thousand will "ward off" from dangerous criminal acts.

"Once again, illegal parking attendants are illegal bumpers. Your thousand and two thousand will prevent them from committing bigger and dangerous crimes," wrote the account owner @arfibambani.

He compared the situation in New York, United States, where the crime rate is high. According to him, developed countries like the US where the social order is already established, unemployment is even more difficult to live.

"It is difficult for them to develop a 'creative economy' like guarding the parking lot. The only option is to beg and ask people for money."

In conclusion, according to him, illegal parking attendants, buskers, street vendors, are social phenomena. "We can't get rid of symptoms without solving the root problem: work. There could be another root problem from work: education."

So is it true? Should the proliferation of illegal parking attendants be allowed?

Illustration of a parking attendant (Unsplash/Farel Yesha)

Root of the problem

Before answering this question, we need to know the root cause of why illegal parking is now becoming more and more common. And the sociologist of Gajah Mada University (UGM) Suprapto has the answer.

According to Suprapto's research, the proliferation of illegal parking is not due to the limited number of jobs. But because people prefer to be picky about work.

"The result of my research is that the illegal parking phenomenon is not due to the limited number of jobs. But because people prefer to choose their jobs," Suprapto told VOI.

Suprapto said he had encountered illegal parking attendants, buskers, and beggars at the Pingit intersection, Yogyakarta. He then offered another job and asked them to leave it. But they refused.

"But he replied, 'Father, if you don't want to give it, it's okay, sir.' That means, he prefers to raise his hand without working. Instead of him, for example, doing work that is considered heavy, "explained Suprapto.

Illustration (Unsplash/Handi Sugihartia)

Meanwhile, according to Suprapto, another cause that cannot be denied is the feeling of laziness for parking attendants who are blind salaries. "There are also some who are lazy, those who disappear when the vehicle arrives, but appear when the vehicle is about to leave. So they just want the money. Although there are also many diligent parking attendants, who really tidy up the vehicle, cross, and other jobs," said Suprapto .

Therefore, Suprapto himself actually did not want illegal parking attendants to proliferate. They, said Suprapto, must be watched and regulated.

"This means that there are illegal parking attendants, sometimes when a vehicle arrives he is silent. When the vehicle is about to leave he appears. That is indeed very unfair," said Suprapto.

Need to set

Sociologist Suprapto explained that illegal parking attendants who eat blind salaries can cause injustice. "Because justice is something that is given according to one's devotion. If that person does not do any activity and then asks for a reward, this is not justified."

Suprapto said, the presence of illegal parking attendants needs to be regulated. They should at least be registered by the local government.

"When people really want to be parking attendants, or now we also see people crossing at a fork in the road and there are no traffic police, I don't think it's a problem. As long as these people register with the local government or if they don't register with the local government, or the police are sensitive," Suprapto explained.

According to Suprapto, residents will have no problem spending two or three thousand dollars, as long as the parking attendants really work and are not illegal. "That's why we don't have a problem paying three thousand, when he actually works, finds an empty place, arranges parking. The bottom line is two points: not wild, and they work," concluded Suprapto.

*Read other information about MEGAPOLITAN or read other interesting articles from Ramdan Febrian Arifin.

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