Do traffic police charge parking fees for impounded vehicles?
2 Answers
When a vehicle is temporarily impounded by traffic authorities, no parking fees are required. The storage costs incurred due to seizure or impoundment shall be borne by the administrative agency. This means that if a driver's vehicle is impounded due to illegal activities, the towing fees and parking fees will be covered by the public security authority, not the vehicle owner. Additional information: According to Article 26 of the Administrative Compulsion Law of the People's Republic of China: For premises, facilities, or properties that are sealed or impounded, the administrative agency shall properly maintain them and must not use or damage them; if losses occur, compensation liability shall be assumed. For sealed premises, facilities, or properties, the administrative agency may entrust a third party with their maintenance, and the third party must not damage or transfer or dispose of them without authorization. For losses caused by the third party, the administrative agency shall first compensate and then has the right to recover from the third party. The storage costs incurred due to seizure or impoundment shall be borne by the administrative agency.
Last time my car was impounded by traffic police and parked in their designated lot, I was worried about parking fees. But when I retrieved it, I didn’t have to pay a single cent. Turns out, by law, parking fees during traffic enforcement impoundment are covered by the government or law enforcement agencies—no charges to the vehicle owner. However, note that you must settle any fines when retrieving the car; delays might lead to extra hassle. From experience, many friends mistakenly assume they’ll be charged, but that’s unnecessary worry. Occasionally, towing fees might come out of pocket, like if a third-party towing company is involved—but that’s separate from parking fees. My advice: contact the traffic police promptly after impoundment to sort paperwork—it cuts stress and saves hassle.
