More than 800 cars found abandoned in Muscat in 2020

Muscat: More than 800 cars were found abandoned in Muscat in 2020, according to Muscat Municipality.

Reminding that accumulation of discarded cars slows down traffic flow, causes security and environmental risks and distorts the aesthetic appearance of the city, the Municipality has said that it has expanded its efforts to monitor neglected vehicles.

Abandoning cars at streets, parks or public lots deprives others from using public parking lots, the civic body has sought to remind.

The practice could also cause traffic congestion at roads or entrances and exits of residential neighbourhoods, it said.

Furthermore, cars abandoned for a long time accumulate dust and they are likely to host rodents or insects, it added.

Statistics registered by Muscat Municipality show that about 829 vehicles were neglected in the governorate in 2020.

Al Amerat alone registered 686  abandoned vehicles, followed by Bausher (88) and Quraiyat (54). Only one vehicle was found abandoned in Muttrah. Most of the abandoned vehicles were concentrated in industrial areas.

Leaving vehicles for a long time violates the administrative decision No. 171/2018 issued on the regulation of neglected vehicles in public places in Muscat Governorate, the Municipality said.

Article No. 2 of the regulation stipulates that the owner of the vehicle is prohibited from leaving it in public places in a way that distorts the aesthetic appearance.

Article 4 states that the municipality may tow away abandoned vehicles in public places at the expense of the owner after the expiration of 14 days from the date of placing a warning label on the vehicle, without taking any responsibility for the damage caused when moving them to and keeping them at the impound lots.

According to article 5, an administrative fine is imposed on the owner of a neglected vehicle after impounding once the owner appeals to the Municipality.

The amount is OMR200 for cars,  buses designed to transport 15 passengers or less, and bicycles, OMR400 for trucks,  buses designed to transport more than 15 passengers, and trailers, tractors, equipment, and OMR1,000 on the vehicles intended to transport hazardous materials. In addition a fine  of OMR5 will be imposed on the owners of neglected vehicles for each day after receiving the vehicle at the impound site.

Article 6 stipulates that the Municipality shall coordinate with the Royal Oman Police to take actions to sell the neglected vehicles by a public auction in case the owner of the vehicle fails to appeal for the Municipality to take his vehicle, and paying the fees due within 90 days from the date of towing away the vehicle without an acceptable excuse.

Article No. 79 of local decision No. 1/2006 on prevention of public health hazards stipulates it is not permissible to leave the vehicle on the road to avoid accidents or blocking traffic.

Article 131 of the same regulation stated that “a neglected vehicle may be detained if it is found neglected anywhere on the road”.

These decisions come within the framework of Muscat Municipality’s ongoing keenness to preserve the public appearance of the city, urging owners not to leave their vehicles in public places.