How long can you park with hazard lights on before it's considered illegal parking?

[DelIvan]

Using hazard lights while parking is not related to illegal parking. Illegal parking: Illegal parking is a legal term referring to situations where vehicle parking violates Article 63 of the "Regulations for the Implementation of the Road Traffic Safety Law of the People's Republic of China". It means parking in undesignated locations. Locations where parking is prohibited by law: Parking is prohibited in sections of roads with no-parking signs or markings, in sections with separation facilities between motor vehicle lanes and non-motor vehicle lanes or sidewalks, as well as at crosswalks and construction zones; at intersections, railway crossings, sharp curves, narrow roads less than 4 meters wide, bridges, steep slopes, tunnels, and within 50 meters of these locations; within 30 meters of bus stops, emergency stations, gas stations, fire hydrants, or fire stations, except when using these facilities; doors should not be opened before the vehicle comes to a complete stop, and opening doors should not obstruct other vehicles or pedestrians; roadside parking should be close to the right side of the road, and the driver must not leave the vehicle, and must depart immediately after passengers alight or goods are loaded/unloaded; city buses must not stop to pick up or drop off passengers outside designated bus stops.

[DelEllie]

I've been driving for over a decade and often encounter new drivers asking if hazard lights can be used as a 'get-out-of-ticket-free' card. Honestly, whether parking with hazard lights on is illegal or not isn't directly related to how long you stop—it depends on where you park. For example, in yellow-line zones near school gates, even if you only stop for 30 seconds to pick up your child, you'll still get fined. In white-dashed areas where temporary parking is allowed, if the driver stays in the car, police usually turn a blind eye for three to five minutes. But don’t think flashing hazard lights gives you the right to park in the emergency lane for half an hour—automatic cameras in monitored areas don’t care if your lights are on. If you really need to stop temporarily, remember: hazard lights are just a warning to other drivers, not a charm against tickets.

[TravisAnn]

Last time my cousin was fined 200 yuan right after buying a car, simply because he parked with hazard lights on at a bus stop while waiting for someone. Traffic regulations clearly state: No-parking zones remain violations even with hazard lights activated, and some automated cameras will capture evidence. For example, stopping for even 1 minute on urban arterial roads with solid yellow lines, fire lanes, or hospital emergency access lanes is high-risk behavior. If temporary parking is absolutely necessary, look for areas with white dashed curb markings and keep a passenger in the car—this usually prompts traffic police to issue a verbal warning first. Remember, the key isn't how long your hazards are on, but avoiding parking beneath red-cross no-stopping signs.

[CollinMarie]

I once heard a traffic police friend mention that what annoys them the most is illegal parking under the guise of hazard lights. Legally, there's no such rule as 'hazard lights allow parking for a few minutes.' Whether you get penalized entirely depends on whether you obstruct traffic. For example: stopping for 90 seconds with hazard lights on to buy a bottle of water at a roadside shop at night might go unnoticed. But stopping for 2 minutes at a crossroad during morning rush hour, causing a line of cars to back up, won't be excused even if your hazard lights are flashing like crazy. It's advisable to always have a 'move car' contact sign in your vehicle. If you really need to stop briefly, don't turn off the engine so you can move the car anytime.