Commercial vehicles take up all the empty spaces

Abu Dhabi: Commercial vehicles taking up scarce parking space are becoming a nightmare for residents battling to find somewhere to leave their cars.

"It takes hours to find a parking. Most of the lots have been taken by used car dealers and rent-a-car companies," said Mustafa Darwish, a resident in the Mushrif area.

On a Gulf News visit to the area, entire blocks of parking lots were seen taken by dozens of companies lining the street. Apart from parking in designated and non-designated spaces, some of the companies even had sofas, benches or chairs arranged around parked cars to provide added comfort to their customers.

"There is ample parking space in this area, but the hundreds of used car dealers play spoilsport," said Beena George, a homemaker who lives close to the Choueifat International School. The residents have no other option but to park on the road, she adds.

Raja Fahim Al Rahman, who lives in Al Falah Street, said: "Residents face a huge parking problem because of a transport company. Several buses are parked in the area at all times, leaving hardly any space."

During rush hours, especially in the afternoon and late evening, motorists are forced to leave their cars blocking other vehicles, Al Rahman says.

On Saturday, Al Rahman and dozens of others were fined by the police for illegal parking.

According to police statistics, over 17,645 parking violations have been registered since March. The police are running a month-long campaign to curb illegal parking.

Fines: 17 types of violations

• Parking a vehicle blocking fire hydrants or in spaces allocated for people with special needs or for ambulance parking: Dh1,000 fine and 4 black points. Can be fined in absentia and when present.
• Stopping in the middle of the road without justification: Dh500 and 4 black points, when present.
• Stopping in the yellow box: Dh500, when present or in absentia.
• Stoping car on left hand side of the road: Dh500, when present or in absentia.
• Stopping on zebra crossing: Dh500, when present or in absentia.
• Parking behind vehicles and blocking their movement: Dh300 fine, when present or in absentia.
• Taxis stoping in areas other than designated areas: Dh200 and 4 black points, when present or in absentia.
• Failing to abide by loading and unloading rules: Dh200 and 4 black points, plus confiscation of vehicle for 7 days, when present.
• Violating passenger transport rules: Dh200 plus 4 black points plus confiscation of vehicle for 7 days, when present.
• Parking in prohibited places: Dh200 fine and 2 black points, when present or in absentia.
• Stopping at loading and unloading area without reason: Dh200 fine, when present.
• Stopping on hard shoulder without reason: Dh200 fine, when present.
• Stopping in a dangerous way blocking traffic: Dh200 and 3 black points, when present or in absentia.
• Parking on pavement: Dh200 fine and 3 black points, when present or in absentia.
• Abuse of parking space: Dh200 fine and 3 black points, when present or in absentia.
• Stopping a car by blocking traffic: Dh200 fine, when present or in absentia.
• Stopping at intersections: Dh200, when present or in absentia.