Is reverse parking penalized with demerit points?
2 Answers
Reverse parking is penalized with demerit points. If a vehicle parks in reverse, it must change lanes or make a U-turn to drive in the opposite direction before parking. Therefore, the penalty for reverse parking is based on driving in the opposite direction, which results in a 3-point deduction and a fine. Here are the specific details regarding reverse parking: Regulations: Article 63, Item 5 of the "Road Traffic Safety Law Implementation Regulations" states: "Parking on the roadside should be close to the right side of the road." Article 62 of the "Road Traffic Management Regulations" states: "When temporarily parking in locations other than parking lots, vehicles must stop on the right side of the road in the direction of travel." Articles 22 and 70 stipulate: "When temporarily parking on roads outside of parking lots, vehicles should park in the direction of travel, with the outer edge of the right-side wheels no more than 0.3 meters from the road edge."
I've encountered this reverse parking issue before in my neighborhood. That day, I was in a hurry to buy groceries and parked my car facing inward in the opposite parking space for convenience. When I came back to get my car, I found a ticket on the windshield, deducting 3 points and fining me 200 yuan. The traffic warden explained to me that reverse parking is considered an illegal occupation of road resources, which can easily create blind spots and lead to scraping accidents. Nowadays, many cities have upgraded their electronic monitoring systems, so even if there's no on-site enforcement, you might still get caught. When parking, don't take shortcuts to save time—take the extra minute to properly turn around and park. Remember, the direction of your car's front must align with the direction of the traffic lane, especially in high-traffic areas like schools and hospitals, where traffic police enforce stricter penalties.
