Sharjah
We live in the Industrial Area 5, Sharjah, for the past 10 years. Until a few years ago, there was no issue of parking in this area, especially in our building’s parking lot. But now, the issue is growing. When we analysed, we found that the main problem were the commercial vehicles and abandoned cars that were being parked here.
I was surprised to see that on some of the cars, the muncipal officers had left a warning sticker asking the owners to remove their vehicles from the area. A few days ago, I came across eight such cars, all of which have been parked in the parking lot of our building for at least a year.
There could be more in the areas around ours, as there are more parking lots in the buildings next to ours. There are many commercial vehicles and recovery trucks that are also parked in our residential parking lot.
There are some other issues that need the authorities’ attention, too. In the nearby mosque’s parking lot, many cars are parked at all times, making it difficult for worshippers to park at prayer times. There is a sign board there that clearly states that there is a Dh1,000 fine for people who park there all day. But, motorists still park their cars through the day.
When there is an open house at the school nearby, parents park here so it becomes a school parking lot. When there is a match or program at the cricket stadium, visitors park here and then it becomes a visitor parking lot. And now old cars are abandoned here, too.
All these people need to understand that we are paying rent to live in the building and require the space to park our cars. After a long drive back from work, finding our parking lot occupied by outsiders is really painful. I request the concerned authorities to look into this issue and take necessary actions to sort it out.
— The reader is based in Sharjah.
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FACTBOX:
According to a Gulf News report published in September, 2014, the Sharjah Municipality has issued a warning to residents in the past who abandon or park their vehicles on the streets for long periods of time, even while they go on vacation. Car owners who have travelled and left their cars parked on the streets will be fined Dh500.
The municipality gives car owners a grace period to remove their vehicle from the particular location it has been parked in to avoid any fines. The car will be confiscated after the completion of the grace period or if the owner fails to respond to the warning and notification of the municipality. To report abandoned vehicles, residents can contact the municipality on their hotline 993.
In Dubai, the Dubai Municipality is authorised to remove abandoned vehicles from streets, public parking lots and public spaces. Parked dirty vehicles are inspected and if applicable, a notice of removal sticker is applied. If the vehicle is not claimed within 15 days of the removal sticker being put on, it is removed to a scrap yard.
Cars confiscated by Dubai Municipality are taken to the abandoned cars unit in the Umm Ramool area, where they are kept for six months. If the owner claims the car in this time, he or she has to pay a fine of around Dh700 to release the vehicle.
To report an abandoned car in a public space, call the Dubai Municipality hotline 800 900.
In Abu Dhabi, if an abandoned car is spotted, municipal inspectors affix notices to them, with a grace period of three days for owners to move them or have them cleaned, according to a Gulf News report published in February.
If no action is taken by the end of the grace period, the municipality then begins legal processes to impound the vehicles. Cars, trucks or any other abandoned vehicles are towed to the impound yard at Al Wathba.
A fine of Dh3,000 is also imposed on the owner. A second offence means that the fine is doubled, and daily impound fees will also be applied.
