Article 8 of the Saudi Municipal Penalties Regulations
المادة 8 من لائحة الجزاءات عن المخالفات البلدية
Article 8 allows the Amanah or municipality to impound vehicles abandoned in public places for more than seven days and stray livestock for no more than five days, with the violator bearing the costs.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
دون الإخلال بأي إجراء منصوص عليه نظاماً، ودون الإخلال بالجزاءات المنصوص عليها في المادة (الثانية) من اللائحة، يجوز للأمانة أو البلدية ما يأتي:
1- حجز المركبة أو الآلية المتروكة في ساحة عامة أو موقف عام أو شارع عام لمدة تزيد على (سبعة) أيام. فإن لم يراجع صاحبها لتسلمها بعد المدة التي تحددها القرارات التنفيذية الصادرة بموجب اللائحة، فعلى الأمانة أو البلدية اتخاذ الإجراءات اللازمة وفقاً لما تحدده القرارات التنفيذية الصادرة بموجب اللائحة.
2- حجز الماشية المتروكة سائبة داخل حدود حماية التنمية أو الداخلة ضمن هذه الحدود في المناطق الخضراء المملوكة للأمانة أو البلدية أو للغير؛ في حجز خاص لمدة لا تتجاوز (خمسة) أيام. فإن لم يراجع صاحبها لتسلمها بعد المدة التي تحددها القرارات التنفيذية الصادرة بموجب اللائحة، فعلى الأمانة أو البلدية اتخاذ الإجراءات اللازمة وفقاً لما تحدده القرارات التنفيذية الصادرة بموجب اللائحة.
3- في جميع الأحوال، يتحمل المخالف ما قد يترتب على ما ورد في الفقرتين (1) و(2) من هذه المادة من نفقات، وتحدد القرارات التنفيذية الصادرة بموجب اللائحة آليات احتسابها.
This is the official Arabic wording, the only legally binding version. We do not translate the law itself; the explanation below is ours. Official source: Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers
Article 8 explained in plain English
Article 8 gives the Amanah or the municipality two additional powers, without prejudice to any procedure provided for by law or to the penalties in Article 2 (fine, closure, and license cancellation):
1) Impounding abandoned vehicles and machinery:
- This means a vehicle or machine abandoned in a public square, public parking area, or public street.
- The condition for impounding is that it has been abandoned for more than seven days.
- If its owner does not come to collect it after the period set by the implementing decisions, the Amanah or the municipality takes the necessary measures in accordance with those decisions.
2) Impounding stray livestock:
- This means livestock left stray within the development protection boundaries, or that enter these boundaries in green areas owned by the Amanah, the municipality, or others.
- It is held in a special pound for a period not exceeding five days.
- If its owner does not come after the period set by the implementing decisions, the necessary measures are taken in accordance with them.
3) Costs: In all cases the violator bears the costs resulting from the impounding, and the implementing decisions set the mechanisms for calculating them.
The Article does not state the measures taken after the owner fails to come, but refers them to the implementing decisions. It follows Article 7, which preserves the violator's right to file a grievance against the application of the penalty. Anyone whose vehicle has been impounded and who believes the impounding is incorrect may consult a specialized lawyer in administrative matters (the Board of Grievances).
Practical example
Nasser left his old car in a public parking area in Riyadh and traveled for two weeks. Once the period of abandonment exceeded seven days, the Amanah was entitled to impound it, and Nasser bears the impounding costs according to the mechanism set by the implementing decisions.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
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Frequently asked questions about Article 8 of the Saudi Municipal Penalties Regulations
When may the municipality impound an abandoned car?
If it has been left in a public square, public parking area, or public street for more than seven days.
How long may stray livestock be impounded?
It is held in a special pound for a period not exceeding five days.
Who pays the costs of impounding the car or livestock?
The violator bears the costs resulting from the impounding, and the implementing decisions set the mechanisms for calculating them.
Articles this article refers to
More articles on Impounding Vehicles, Livestock and Goods
- Article 12
Article 12 allows the municipality, on strong suspicion of a serious violation, to secure or impound materials or close the shop for up to three days, with compensation to the owner if the violation is not proven.
1- إذا كان لدى الأمانة أو البلدية شك قوي بوقوع مخالفة بلدية جسيمة، فيجوز لها التحفظ على المواد أو الأدوات المتعلقة بهذه المخالفة المشكوك في وقوعها، أو حجزها، أو
- Article 13
Article 13 provides that seizing the materials and tools used in a violation does not lead to their destruction unless they are shown to be unfit for use.
لا يترتب على ضبط المواد والأدوات المستعملة في المخالفة إتلافها إلا إذا ثبت أنها غير صالحة للاستخدام، وتحدد القرارات التنفيذية الصادرة بموجب اللائحة الأحكام والإ
The texts are reproduced from the official website of the Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers for reference; where they differ, the officially published Arabic text prevails. This content is not legal advice.