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