Muscat: Motorists leaving their cars on the streets and public squares for many weeks risk being slapped with fines from OMR 200 to OMR 1,000, authorities have warned.

The Muscat Municipality on Monday issued fresh warnings stressing that abandoning cars is in violation of municipal rules.

The civic body has always reported impounding of hundreds of cars found dirty and abandoned in various areas. 

According to the new ruling, owners of abandoned cars, buses and bicycles in Oman will be fined OMR200 and owners of heavy vehicles like trucks and buses that transport more than 15 people will be fined OMR400. 

Another OMR5 will be imposed on the owner of a neglected vehicle for each day they fail to collect the vehicle from the impound sit, the Municipality said. In addition to that, vehicles intended to transport hazardous materials will be fined OMR1,000.

According to Muscat Municipality, more than 3,150 abandoned cars have been towed in 2019 alone from four wilayats. 

 According to Muscat Municipality, a total of 3,154 vehicles were towed in Wilayats Muttrah, Seeb, Amerat and Bousher in the Muscat Governorate – mostly from Wilayat Seeb. 

 Seeb came in the first with 2,572 vehicles towed, followed by Bousher with 425, and Mutrah and Amerat with 90 and 67 respectively. 

 Such abandoned vehicles can be spotted gathering dust close to mosques, car workshops and in public car-parks.