Jakarta. Renewing a driving license will become easier as Indonesians will no longer need to return to the city where the license was issued, thanks to the new online system the government is expected to implement nationwide on July 1.

Deputy National Police chief Comr. Gen. Badrodin Haiti said on Monday that existing holders of driving licenses will be able to connect to the police data center and the government’s civil registration data center at the Home Affairs Ministry if they visit specific outlets to renew their licenses.

Currently, a person can only renew a driving license in the city or town where it was originally issued.

“This online system for diving licenses is aimed at improving the police’s service to the people. Next year, we’ll also implement it for the extension of vehicle ownership certificates (BPKB) and vehicle registration certificates (STNK),” Badrodin said at the National Police headquarter in Jakarta.

Brig. Gen. Condro Kirono, chief of the National Police’s traffic corps (Korlantas), said the police have been preparing since 2006 to implement the system.

A limited synchronization of the database system in some parts of the country has been worked out since then, but nationwide database connectivity has never been implemented.

A limited trial for the online processing of driving license extensions took place mostly in the capital last year.

The police have provided some outlets for the limited trials, including at the offices in Jalan Daan Mogot, West Jakarta; Kebon Nanas, East Jakarta; and Kemayoran and Blok A, both in South Jakarta. The police have also deployed some mobile outlets in the capital to facilitate license renewals. So far, it has garnered 21,883 renewals for car driving licenses (SIM A) and 27,161 renewals for motorcycle driving licenses (SIM C).

The software for the new online system used by the National Police was developed by state lender Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI), in collaboration with the police. The software records a license holder’s credentials, identity photo, fingerprints and signature, before it allows the printing of a new driving license card. This means that the new system offers a paperless process, helping the government reduce costs.

Condro, of Korlantas, gave an example that a college student from Papua studying in Yogyakarta would not have to return to his or her hometown to renew a license, thanks to the new online system.

BeritaSatu & GlobeAsia

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