65 vehicles impounded by RAK Police in a week

Ras Al Khaimah - The owners of the vehicles with warning letters are given a grace period of only 10 days to remove, shift or clean them.

As many as 96 abandoned vehicles were spotted by the Ras Al Khaimah Police across the emirate in one week.
Major Salem Burqiba, head of traffic and patrols section, RAK Police, said 31 abandoned vehicles were spotted during the first inspection. "Up to 65 of these abandoned vehicles have been moved to the impoundment area and warning letters have been stuck on the remaining 31 vehicles."
The owners of the vehicles with warning letters are given a grace period of only 10 days to remove, shift or clean them, he said. "Failing to do so, the vehicle will be impounded and released only after the payment of due fine."
Hailing the campaign, residents said these vehicles are used as hideouts for illegal practices.
Abdullah Saeed, Emirati government retiree, said these unattended vehicles tarnish the scenic image of the city. Ziad Tariq, a Palestinian engineer, said he used to see an abandoned car on his way to work for two years. "It was not only left unattended, but was totally damaged, and should have been sold as scrap long ago."
Maisun Mohammed, acting director of public resources of the RAK Police, said the impoundment yard can contain 500 vehicles. "All the impounded vehicles are shifted to the impoundment yard at Al Saedi area."
The working hours of these recovery are only in the morning shift all over the emirate from Shaam area to Al Manei area, she added. "We are preparing a database of the chassis' numbers of all impounded vehicles so that they can be easily tracked and collected as per the legal procedures.
"All vehicles without number plates are immediately impounded. These vehicles, if not claimed within a grace period of six months, will be sold as scrap."
ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com

• Ras Al Khaimah