How many minutes count as illegal parking in a no-parking zone?
2 Answers
Parking is prohibited in no-parking zones. Article 56 of the Road Traffic Safety Law stipulates that motor vehicles must be parked in designated areas. Parking on sidewalks is prohibited, except in parking spaces marked in accordance with Article 33 of this law. Temporary parking on the road must not obstruct the passage of other vehicles or pedestrians. Additional information: Article 63 of the Implementation Regulations of the Road Traffic Safety Law of the People's Republic of China specifies the following rules for temporary parking of motor vehicles on the road: 1. Parking is prohibited in sections with no-parking signs or markings, sections with separation facilities between motor vehicle lanes and non-motor vehicle lanes or sidewalks, pedestrian crossings, and construction zones. 2. Parking is prohibited at intersections, railway crossings, sharp curves, narrow roads less than 4 meters wide, bridges, steep slopes, tunnels, and within 50 meters of these locations. 3. Parking is prohibited in front of bus stops, emergency stations, gas stations, fire hydrants, or fire stations, and within 30 meters of these locations, except for vehicles using these facilities. 4. Doors must not be opened or passengers allowed to board or alight before the vehicle comes to a complete stop, and opening doors must not obstruct other vehicles or pedestrians. 5. When parking on the roadside, vehicles must stay close to the right side of the road, and the driver must not leave the vehicle. The vehicle must depart immediately after passengers board or alight or after loading/unloading goods. 6. City buses must not stop to pick up or drop off passengers outside designated bus stops.
I have a little experience to share, as I've been driving for many years and often encounter similar issues. On no-parking roads, such as those with solid yellow lines or no-parking signs, theoretically any parking is considered a violation, whether it's for one second or several minutes. This is because traffic regulations clearly prohibit parking to ensure smooth traffic flow and prevent accidents. In practice, some areas may allow temporary pick-up and drop-off, such as a 30-second limit in airport pickup zones, but on regular roads, there's almost no buffer time. Traffic police or surveillance cameras will issue a ticket as soon as they spot you, with the most common penalty being a 200-yuan fine and 3 demerit points. So, I suggest everyone avoid taking chances when you see a no-parking sign to steer clear of trouble.
