Car Modification Regulations to Avoid Police Raids

Currently, the presence of mobile stalls selling various foods, clothes, and furniture is becoming increasingly common. Not only are they often parked in densely populated residential areas, but these mobile shops, which are often created by modifying box trucks, can also frequently be found in places that are popular gathering spots for young people.

In addition to being a trend, the emergence of these modified vehicles also opens up new business opportunities that are worth considering. Their mobile nature is certainly very advantageous for the owners as it makes it easier to find customers and eliminates the need to think about the high rental costs, especially in major cities like Jakarta, Surabaya, and their surroundings.

Besides being more practical, this type of mobile stall trend can also give rise to new trends such as new food or drink trends or new culinary tourism spots. This not only increases the original regional income (PAD) but can also build social relationships with other communities.

Tips to Avoid Getting Ticketed

Although box trucks are considered private vehicles, modifying them into stalls or selling places can result in you getting ticketed by the police. Modifying a vehicle for selling purposes is usually considered a violation because, in essence, vehicles, especially box trucks, are not intended for that purpose. Although the chances are small, this could happen to you if you insist on modifying it without understanding the regulations first.

Modifying pickup trucks or box trucks is often done to attract customers, especially if the vehicle used appears old and unappealing. Besides attracting buyers, modifications are also made to maximize the available space so that sellers can trade freely. However, these modifications are often deemed inappropriate, leading to police warnings or tickets. Therefore, here are some tips to ensure your modified box truck stays ticket-free.

1. Study and Understand the Applicable Regulations

Basically, modifying vehicles in Indonesia is regulated by several legal rules. Legally, modifying a vehicle refers to changes in type dimensions, engine, and load capacity. Based on the explanation above, modifying a box truck for selling clearly falls under this category.

To address this, it is highly recommended that you study traffic regulations in more detail because modifying a vehicle in a way that makes it prone to accidents or poses a danger to others can lead to you being ticketed by the police.

2. Do Not Overdo Modifications

Still related to traffic regulations, box trucks that are excessively modified can disrupt the flow of traffic and endanger other road users. It is common to find some vehicles used for selling that often create crowds, which can obstruct traffic flow and carry excessive loads.

Additionally, changing the original shape or color of the vehicle cannot be done arbitrarily. You need permission from the police because this would violate the information contained in the Vehicle Registration Certificate (STNK), which carries legal responsibility. This means that if you violate this, you could face criminal sanctions or fines of a certain amount.

3. Pay Attention to Document Completeness

In addition to having a Driver's License (SIM), other documents such as STNK and selling permits (if any) must also be complete. To modify your box truck, it is advisable not to do it yourself or entrust it to an ordinary person. Every vehicle modification that does not violate regulations must have a statement from a workshop that holds a Business License (SIUP). Therefore, ensure that your chosen workshop has this permit before proceeding with modifications.

After making modifications, the vehicle must also have matching data with the STNK. Therefore, you must take care of updating the data between the modified vehicle and the new STNK. Although this data can be changed, the information regarding the chassis and engine used cannot be altered as it is considered to change the original identity of the vehicle.

4. Pay Taxes on Time

Paying taxes is certainly mandatory for every vehicle owner. The difference with modified vehicles is that you pay taxes in different amounts depending on the modifications made. For example, a pickup truck modified into a station wagon is required to pay taxes ranging from 500 thousand to 1.4 million rupiah. This is higher than the tax for a regular pickup truck. Unfortunately, there is currently no information on the tax amount that must be paid for modified box trucks.

5. Pay Attention to Selling Locations

If the modified box truck is for business purposes, it is advisable to be careful in choosing a location. Because they are still new and rarely seen, vehicles like this often face difficulties when questioned about selling permits. Some cities like Surabaya and Jakarta have policies and designated areas for such vehicles, but this is not the case in other regions.

If you are not careful, there is a possibility that you could be selling on private property owned by someone else or in areas not permitted by local authorities. Therefore, it would be safer to choose locations that are more secure from vehicle traffic and far from police presence.

These are 5 tips to avoid getting ticketed even if you modify your box truck. Remember that modifying a vehicle is not a cheap or easy task. It requires at least several months and tens of millions of rupiah to modify a box truck according to your desires. Therefore, be careful to ensure your vehicle does not get ticketed by the police or, worse, confiscated by the authorities for being deemed a danger to public safety.