Abandoned vehicles are den of illegal activities in Sharjah
sharjah — Many abandoned vehicles recently seized by the Sharjah Municipality during its inspection campaign were found to be used for storing illegal items, an official has said.
Khalid Al Suwaidi, Director of the Inspection Department at the municipality, said many of the vehicles were found without number plates and were being used for illegal activities. “The inspectors found items such as liquor, niswar and other stuffs stored in these cars, ready for distribution,” he said.
The municipality will continue its inspection campaign targeting abandoned cars covered with dust or fabrics, he said, adding that these cars are not only distorting the image of the city but also affecting the security.
Al Suwaidi said that the inspectors confiscate the cars that don’t have number plates immediately as they are in many cases found to be used as shelter for criminal activities.
Last year, the municipality confiscated more than 8,000 vehicles, because of different reasons. Some were impounded because they were not having number plates and some others were found either parked in unauthorised areas or were covered by clothes in public streets. Some cars were found to be unattended for a long time and covered with dust, which would give a distorted image of the city.
Al Suwaidi said the municipality would intensify the inspection campaign with advent of summer, as it has been noticed that many residents who travel on vacation during summer time leave their cars on public streets for one or two months. “Many people park their cars in unauthorised areas with too much dust on it. This practice is unacceptable and is violation of the civic body regulations. The residents who are planning to travel overseas can park their vehicles in the private parking areas in various parts of the city to avoid confiscation,” he said.
He stressed that the municipality never confiscate the violated vehicles without prior notice. “We place warning stickers on vehicles before impounding them and give a grace period to remove the car form its location. The vehicles parked on main streets will be removed within 24 hours after the warning sticker is placed. In commercial and industrial areas 48 hours are given and it’s 72 hours in residential areas. However, the residents who travelled to their home country don’t respond to the warning and their cars get confiscated,” Al Suwaidi explained.
He pointed out that violations that result in impounding of vehicles attract a fine of Dh1, 000 if they were found parked in unauthorised areas and Dh500 for cars found distorting the image of the city. “The fines will be doubled for repeated offences, and in case of failing to pay the fines on time, an additional fee of Dh150 will be added during the first month and Dh50 for every next month,” he said.
He urged vehicle owners who found their cars have been impounded to approach the customer service centre of the municipality in the industrial area number 5 with documents — Emirates ID, car registration card and violation ticket — and pay the fine.