Royal Oman Police to auction impounded vehicles by end of month

Muscat: A bidding war is expected to start in two weeks’ time as the Royal Oman Police announced that it would be auctioning off the vehicles that were seized either because of violation of some law or were declared unclaimed.
The auction will commence at the Directorate General for Transport (workshop) at the Airport Heights in Muscat on February 26 and 27, 2017.
Locals, residents and visitors may participate in the auction subject to fulfilling a set of conditions. The winner must immediately pay the full amount in cash as well as the commission.
He must transport the vehicle within three days of winning the auction, otherwise he will have to pay OMR5 per day for the delay.
In case of the impounded vehicles that had violated traffic laws, including safety violations, and were held for not more than two weeks, the owner must settle any fines or violations before the police were to release these.
If the vehicles are not claimed within six months from the allotted time of detainment, these are auctioned off. There are several criteria under which vehicles are bound to be confiscated, according to the traffic law.
Article 20 states, “Police officers must stop any vehicle that doesn’t adhere to safety and security requirements or specifications other than what is on the registration. The vehicle must be sent to the directorate or the nearest police station for inspection. If the vehicle does not fulfil the specifications mentioned, the registration will be confiscated, as well as its number plates, and will not be released until the violations for which the vehicle was stopped the first time have been cleared.”
It is also mentioned in Article 11 that the vehicle will be confiscated if the number plate is found different than the one mentioned in the registration documents.
Article 43 also stated that the vehicle will be confiscated if it contained any drawings, writing, information or advertisement without prior approval from
the ROP.
However, any unsettled fines payable by the previous owner must be settled by the new owner of the vehicle.