Can you park for a few minutes on a yellow line by the roadside?
2 Answers
Yellow solid lines along the roadside indicate a no-parking zone throughout the entire marked area, officially termed as 'No Temporary or Long-term Parking on Roadside Line.' Parking, including temporary stops, is strictly prohibited in these areas, meaning you cannot park even for a few minutes. Violating these no-parking markings will result in a fine and a deduction of 3 points from your driving license. On roads without yellow solid lines, temporary parking for 2 to 3 minutes is allowed. Areas where temporary parking is permitted include: 1. Parking signs: Circular prohibition signs with a blue background, a red circle, and a diagonal slash inside the red circle indicate temporary parking is allowed. If there is a red cross in the middle, it means no parking or temporary parking is permitted. 2. Yellow markings: Yellow dashed lines on both sides of the road indicate that temporary parking is allowed. If the road has yellow solid lines, parking is prohibited.
I've been driving in the city for over ten years, and whenever I encounter a yellow line by the roadside, my first instinct is that parking is absolutely not allowed, not even for a second. I still remember last year in Guangzhou when I was in a hurry after work and thought I could quickly park by the yellow line to grab something. The moment I stepped out of the car, a traffic officer gave me a ticket, fined me 200 RMB, and reminded me that yellow lines are clearly marked as no-parking zones in traffic regulations, with no exceptions for stopping even for a few minutes. Policies might vary slightly in different areas—for instance, some big cities have short-term parking zones in certain commercial areas, but only if clearly marked. Otherwise, parking there is always risky, likely to cause congestion or accidents. It’s a good habit to check traffic apps or look for on-site signs—it keeps you safe and saves money.
