Strict Punishment for Heavy Vehicles that Fail Emissions Tests

Environment Minister, Hanif Faisol Nurofiq, ensured that heavy-duty vehicles in categories N and O that fail emission tests will face strict sanctions in the form of minor criminal acts (Tipiring).

Controlling emissions from heavy vehicles becomes a priority

This sanction was made to reduce the impact of air pollution, considering those vehicles are one of the biggest contributors to emissions from the transportation sector.

He assessed, the existing laws and regulations are already very comprehensive; they just need to be enforced consistently to improve the air quality in the Greater Jakarta.

Enforcement on Heavy Vehicles Failing Emission Tests Remains in Effect

He explained that these types of vehicles N and O number more than 33,000 units and contribute more than half of the total air pollution from all operating motor vehicles. If their emissions are successfully controlled, their contribution could reduce pollution by 20–25 percent.

"Controlling emissions from heavy vehicles becomes a priority in efforts to improve air quality in urban areas, especially Greater Jakarta," he expressed, Wednesday (7/16).

Despite joint law enforcement operations for vehicle emission testing in categories N and O may seem like a simple step, they are highly strategic in controlling air pollution in urban areas.

"We also target stationary emission sources or industrial chimneys to improve air quality in Greater Jakarta," he explained.

Previously, the Environment Ministry together with Transportation Ministry, National Police Traffic Corps, Traffic Director of Metro Jaya Regional Police, PT Pelabuhan Indonesia (Persero), and Environmental Agency, Civil Service Police Unit, and Transportation Agency, conducted a joint operation enforcing vehicle emission testing for category N and O motor vehicles at Tanjung Priok Port area, North Jakarta, Tuesday (7/15).

Jakarta Environmental Agency Head, Asep Kuswanto said that in the operation, 84 container trucks were tested, while 11 vehicles failed the test and were subjected to Tipiring sanctions.

He asserted, vehicle owners whose emission quality exceeds the permitted threshold will be summoned to the North Jakarta District Court to undergo a Tipiring trial.

"They face imprisonment of up to six months or a maximum fine by Rp 50 million in accordance with Article 41 paragraph (2) of Bylaw 2/2005 on Air Pollution Control," he added.

As information, based on studies by Vital Strategies with baseline data from 2019 and the World Resources Institute (WRI) with baseline data from 2023, heavy-duty vehicles such as trucks and large diesel-powered vehicles are the biggest contributors to air pollution in the Greater Jakarta, accounting for more than 50 percent of PM2.5 parameters. Meanwhile, light-duty vehicles contribute more than 20 percent.