Park your car correctly, else it will be seized

Sharjah - Sharjah Municipality official says "excessively dusty" vehicles will be confiscated even if they are parked correctly.

If you have just come back from vacation and can't seem to find your vehicle that was left parked in an "improper way", chances are the Sharjah Municipality confiscated it. If that is the case, be prepared to shell out Dh500 as fine for parking the vehicle in an improper way.
"Excessively dusty" vehicles will be confiscated even if they are parked correctly. "People going on vacation must park their vehicles in a safe place and assign someone to take care of it - getting it cleaned when needed and moving it," Omar Al Sharji, Director-General of Customer Services Department at the municipality, said.
He said many residents go on summer vacations, leaving their vehicles parked in unauthorised areas. Often, vehicles are left parked in such a way that they block traffic, he said.

The civic body intensifies inspections during this time of the year, when most of the schools are closed and families go on vacation. Al Sharji said Sharjah is divided into residential, industrial and commercial areas. In residential areas, inspectors will post a notice on vehicles parked improperly and leave it there for a week before confiscating it. In commercial or industrial areas, the notice period will only be 48 hours.
About 200 private parking lots have been sanctioned in Sharjah. "Parking charges in these lots are affordable for the general public and they must make use of it."
Resident-speak
Many residents found their vehicles missing after coming back from vacation.
Mohammed Amin, a resident of Al Butaina, said he was shocked to find his car missing after coming back from vacation. "I parked my car in front of my building. I came to know that the municipality impounded it because it had become dusty. I had to pay the fine to get the car released."
S.K., a resident of Al Musalla area, said he parked his car in a sandy area when he went for vacation. "When I came back, I found that the car had been impounded because it was not moved for a while. The municipality must make residents aware about its rules before penalising offenders."
Suzan Musa, who lives in Al Tawoon area, said he parked his car in a paid zone before going on vacation. "It was not there when I came back. I was not aware of this rule. The municipality must spread awareness about this rule before confiscating cars and issuing fines."
afkarali@khaleejtimes.com

• Sharjah