Motorists leaving their cars on the streets and public squares for many weeks risk being slapped with fines of up to Dh3,000, authorities have warned.

The Abu Dhabi Municipality on Thursday issued fresh warnings stressing that abandoning cars on the roadsides and public squares is in violation of municipal rules.

The civic body has always reported impounding of hundreds of cars found dirty and abandoned in various areas, including Musaffah industrial area, Mafraq, Baniyas and others.

Officials said leaving cars parked on the streets for a long time makes them dirty, and this distorts the city’s appearance in addition to polluting the environment.

Most of the vehicles are impounded because they appeared to be abandoned at parking areas, on roadsides or in areas without “enclosures or fences”, the municipality said.

Unwashed vehicles are also subjected to towing, an offence the municipality called “an irresponsible flouting of the community rights”.

Daily inspections of city streets and car parks are conducted by municipality inspectors. If a vehicle is considered in violation, it is monitored for two weeks. At the end of the 14-day period, a notice is placed on the vehicle, requesting it be removed by the owners. After 24 hours, the car will be towed.

The municipality warned that drivers must keep their cars clean — including if they are on holiday — or risk being caught up in the crackdown.

The penalty for motorists abandoning their cars on the streets is Dh3,000, but the municipality said the owner pays Dh1,500 if they clear the fines within 30 days after the car has been seized.