A total of 765 vehicles abandoned in public spaces across the Musaffah area of the capital have been impounded by the Municipality of Abu Dhabi City.

In a statement issued by the municipality on Tuesday, it said 3,406 warnings have also been served to vehicle owners for the offence. According to the municipality, leaving vehicles unattended can be a hindrance to other road users, and become an eyesore once they accumulate dust.

The municipal campaign to rid Musaffah, half-an-hour’s drive from the city centre, of abandoned and unattended vehicles began in June, and is ongoing. Inspectors first notify vehicle owners by affixing a warning on the unattended vehicle. Owners are given three days to move the vehicle away or clean it.

If no action is taken by the end of the notice period, the vehicle is towed to the impound yard at Al Wathba. The regulation applies to all vehicles, including cars, buses, boats and trailers.

According to Law No. 2 of 2012, those whose vehicles are towed must pay a fine of Dh3,000, but a discount of 50 per cent is offered once the owner reports to the impound yard. There are also additional charges like the towing cost and a daily fee for the vehicle left in the impound yard. In case the offence is repeated, the fine doubles.

According to municipal officials, dirty and unattended vehicles were common across the capital, but the 2012 law curbed the practice. A subsequent amendment that revised the notice period from 14 days to three days now acts as a further deterrent.

The practice is more common during summer, especially where residents don’t have access to basement parking in their buildings. As reported by Gulf News earlier this month, parking management specialists therefore recommend that people leave their vehicle’s keys with a trusted friend in case it needs to be moved or cleaned.

Last month, a total of 120 tankers abandoned in parking lots in the suburb of Baniyas were similarly impounded. And in January, 492 unattended vehicles in Musaffah Industrial Area were towed away.