4,304 abandoned vehicles spotted in Abu Dhabi

The Abu Dhabi City Municipality (ADM) has marked 4,304 abandoned vehicles at Musaffah Industrial Area left at public areas, car parks, open areas and other unoccupied spaces during 2015, and kept these vehicles under monitoring.
The move is part of the municipality's drive to educate the public about the importance of avoiding the practice of leaving vehicles for extended periods in different places in a shabby condition marring the civilised appearance of the city.
A sizeable number of vehicles, which had exhausted the legal grace period, had been removed to the impounded vehicles yard. "This drive replicates the policy of the Municipal System towards maintaining the cleanliness of the city, improving the public appearance, enhancing the public safety and security, minimising environmental pollution and diffusing environmental awareness amongst community members as well as revitalising their role in protecting and conserving the environment," the municipality said.
"The municipality has made it clear that it would follow-up notices affixed on abandoned vehicles to give owners a grace period to tow them away from these places or at least keep them clean from accumulated dust. If no action was taken however, the municipality would have no other option but to remove them to the impounded vehicles yard where the applicable legal actions will take place," it added.
In January 2016, the municipality impounded 492 vehicles of different types from Musaffah Industrial Area including tankers, transporters and light vehicles which have been parked there after the legal grace period.
A fine of Dh3,000 is imposed, and once the offender reports to the municipality, a settlement is offered including the payment of 50% of the fine. But should the offence recurs, the fine will be doubled and daily impounding fees will be applied, depending on the type of vehicle.