Published: Wed 3 Aug 2016, 5:57 PM
Last updated: Thu 4 Aug 2016, 9:05 AM
As many as 6,000 cars abandoned by its owners has been confiscated during the first half of the year, according to the Sharjah Municipality.
Most of the cars belong to residents who left the country for summer vacation. The cars were found either parked in unauthorised areas or covered by clothes in public streets.
The Sharjah civic body intensified the inspection of abandoned and dusty cars with the approach of summer as they would give a distorted image of the city, creating congestion in several areas.
Speaking to Khaleej Times, Ali Hassan Ali, Head of the Car Impounding Section at Sharjah Municipality, said: "With the advent of summer and closures of schools, it has been noticed that the streets of Sharjah have been pact with abandoned cars with dust and that covered with fabrics So that the municipality carried out inspections.
How to avoid impounding
Don't leave the car in public car parking lots or open areas.
Don't cover the cars fully, as they cover the licence plates of cars.
Violations that result in impounding of vehicles attract a fine of Dh1,000 if they were found in unauthorised areas and Dh500 for cars found distorting the view of the city.
The fines will be doubled for repeat offences, and in case of failing to be the fines on times, an additional fees of Dh150 will be added during the first month and Dh50 for every next month.
When the grace period is over, the car will be confiscated and sent to the impoundment lots located on the Sharjah-Umm Al Quwain border. Abandoned heavy trucks will be sent to industrial areas 11 and 12. All the impounded vehicles will be auctioned off within a period of six months.
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"At first, we put a warning sticker on cars that are marked for impoundment. Then the vehicle will be removed within 24 hours if it is parked on the main road; in 48 hours if parked in commercial and industrial areas; and 72 hours if parked in residential areas. The residents who travelled to their home country don't response to the warning so their car get confiscated."
Ali Hassan urged residents going outside the country for vacation to leave their cars in private parking lots or with a relative.
He added that the municipality's inspectors only impound abandoned dirty cars parked in unauthorised areas and cars that don't have licence plates.
Cars that don't have number plates are immediately confiscated as they are in many cases found to be used as shelter for criminal and illegal activities.
In 2015, the Sharjah Municipality issued 30,000 warning notices, and impounded 10,000 cars where as in 2014, only 6,500 cars were impounded.
Car owners who found their cars have been impounded were urged to go to the customer service centre of the municipality in industrial area number 5 with documents - national ID, car registration card and violation ticket - and pay the fine.
"They can request the services of impounded cars recently launched by the municipality to get theirs cars delivered to any desired location or doorsteps by paying a minimal fees," he said
afkarali@khaleejtimes.com
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