Can you park temporarily by the roadside with a solid white line?
4 Answers
There is no inherent connection between solid white lines and parking. Here is the relevant information: Solid white lines: The solid white line at the edge of the road is actually the boundary line of the motor vehicle lane, used to separate the motor vehicle lane from the non-motor vehicle lane or sidewalk. There is no inherent connection between solid white lines and whether parking is allowed. On roadsides with solid white lines, drivers need to refer to other signs and markings to determine whether parking is permitted. Long-term and temporary parking are strictly prohibited: when there is a solid yellow line by the roadside, or a 'No Parking' sign with an '×' symbol, or a 'No Parking' sign with a diagonal line and the word 'Stop'.
Oh, talking about the solid white line on the roadside, I have to remind everyone that in most places, you absolutely cannot park temporarily by this line, not even just to hop out and buy something. I've encountered this several times while driving—seeing a solid white line and thinking of taking a quick, lazy stop—only to nearly get pulled over by traffic police and even fined once. The specific reason is that white solid lines are usually part of traffic markings, indicating a no-parking zone. Firstly, it's to avoid affecting the safety of other vehicles' passage, and secondly, to prevent blocking emergency access. If you carefully recall the traffic rules from your driving lessons, it clearly states that you shouldn't mess around with such lines. Safety first! I've made it a habit to check my phone's map app first to see if parking is permitted on that local stretch or to park in designated lots and walk over—it's worry-free and safe. Anyway, don’t take the risk. Aside from the fine for violating regulations, causing an accident would be even worse.
From my perspective, when I first got my driver's license, I didn't pay much attention to the white lines on the roadside, thinking it would be fine to park temporarily for a few minutes. As a result, I was fined 200 yuan on my first drive, and I felt so regretful! Later in driving school, the instructor repeatedly emphasized: solid white lines are one of the markings where parking or temporary stopping is absolutely prohibited. They act like a safety barrier protecting traffic order. The law is strict about such things, mainly to prevent congestion or accidents, such as parking on curves or narrow roads where following vehicles might not brake in time. I've made it a habit to first check for any no-parking signs around or use smart navigation tools to find legal parking spots. New drivers should pay attention to this small detail and ask experienced drivers for advice to avoid the same mistake I made. Now, after years of driving, I haven't made that mistake again.
Regarding the solid white line by the roadside, I'd bet 99.9% of the time you can't park temporarily, as this line is a strict no-parking marker in traffic regulations. The reason is simple: it's designed to prevent vehicles from illegally occupying lanes and creating hazards. If you park there, the cars behind might get confused, leading to rear-end collisions or worse. I once saw a guy pull over by a white line to open his trunk, and a traffic officer immediately issued him a ticket. He argued he only stopped for ten seconds, but it was no use—he still got fined. So, my take is: safety always comes first. It's better to circle around for a blue-line parking spot or use a parking app's recommended spot. Developing awareness of local road rules is crucial—some urban areas might have exceptions with yellow dashed lines, but white lines are a no-go. Don't test the rules.
