Law as an Instrument of Social Engineering in the Formation of Legal Consciousness through the Implementation of ETLE

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Vol. 3 No. 1 (2026): Strengthening Accountability and Rights Protection in the Indonesian Legal System
Published: Jan 28, 2026
Keywords:
rekayasa sosial; legal consciousness; ETLE; sosiologi hukum; keselamatan berkendara. social engineering; legal consciousness; ETLE; sociology of law; traffic safety.

Main Article Content

Putri Wahyu Widayanti
Faculty of Law Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia

Abstract

From a sociology of law perspective, law is not merely understood as a body of written norms, but also as an instrument of social engineering that directs behavioral change within society. This article examines the implementation of Electronic Traffic Law Enforcement  (ETLE) in Indonesia as a manifestation of law as social engineering in shaping public legal consciousness toward traffic safety. This study adopts a qualitative approach using a juridical-sociological method through the analysis of legislation, academic literature, and socio-legal theoretical frameworks. The analytical framework is based on Roscoe Pound’s theory of law as a tool of social engineering, Lawrence M. Friedman’s legal system theory, the concept of legal consciousness developed by Ewick and Silbey, and Talcott Parsons’ structural-functional theory through the AGIL scheme. The findings demonstrate that ETLE functions not only as a technological innovation in law enforcement but also as a mechanism of social integration that constructs new legal experiences for society. Through technology-based surveillance, ETLE encourages a shift in compliance patterns from fear-based obedience (compliance) toward the internalization of traffic safety values (internalization). However, the effectiveness of ETLE as an instrument of social engineering remains influenced by structural capacity, legal substance, and prevailing legal culture. Therefore, the success of ETLE in fostering a sustainable traffic safety culture depends on strengthening legal consciousness through synergy among legal structure, substance, and culture.

Article Details

How to Cite
Widayanti, P. W. (2026). Law as an Instrument of Social Engineering in the Formation of Legal Consciousness through the Implementation of ETLE. Equality : Journal of Law and Justice, 3(1), 103–116. https://doi.org/10.69836/equality-jlj.v3i1.714
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Author Biography

Putri Wahyu Widayanti, Faculty of Law Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia

Putri Wahyu Widayanti, S.H., is a Master of Law student at the Faculty of Law, Gadjah Mada University. Her research interests include environmental law, state administrative law, public policy, natural resource governance, and sustainable development. In her academic studies, she focuses on the sociological approach to law and the relationship between law, policy, and social change in the context of development and governance.

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