What are the penalties for installing sirens on private cars?

[StClaire]

Private cars installing sirens will be subject to forced removal and confiscation by the traffic management department of the public security organ, and a fine ranging from 200 to 2,000 yuan will be imposed. The following is an introduction to sirens: 1. Introduction to sirens: A siren refers to a device that emits alarm signals. It is used to issue signals for forecasts, alarms, and the lifting of alarms. 2. Applicable vehicles for sirens: According to Article 15 of the Road Traffic Safety Law of the People's Republic of China, police cars, fire engines, ambulances, and engineering rescue vehicles must be painted with emblem patterns and equipped with sirens and signal lights as required. Other motor vehicles are not allowed to paint, install, or use emblem patterns, sirens, or signal lights that are exclusive to the aforementioned vehicles or similar to them.

[DiGiselle]

My neighbor Old Zhang secretly installed an alarm on his car last year to play pranks, but got caught by the police within days. The officer issued him a ticket on the spot, fined him 500 yuan, and deducted points from his license—reportedly 6 points. The alarm was confiscated immediately. He was upset for a long time and told me that enforcement is extremely strict now, with cameras and roadside checks everywhere in the city. Installing such devices on private cars counts as illegal modification, and offenders are easily caught. In severe cases, like mimicking emergency sirens to mislead others, fines can go up to 2,000 yuan, and one might even be taken in for questioning. I’d advise everyone not to try this for novelty—keeping your car stock is the safest. If something goes wrong, regret won’t help. Even when I consider adding a light to my car, I consult the 4S store first.

[TeaganLynn]

Last time I got curious and installed an alarm in my car to try it out. My friends said it looked pretty cool, but the first time I hit the road, I was pulled over by traffic police. The officer gave me a lecture, saying it was impersonating police equipment—light penalties could be a fine of 300 to 500 yuan, while severe cases could lead to confiscation and point deductions, possibly losing over 4 points on my license. The key issue is it endangers public order—what if real police cars get confused during emergencies? I’ve learned my lesson now and always check regulations before modifying anything—similar lighting or siren devices are banned, so directly switching to legal accessories is much easier. Everyone, remember: have fun, but safety first—don’t risk trouble for a quick thrill.

[OJameson]

As far as I know, installing an alarm on a private car is illegal, and the penalties are quite severe. If caught by the police, you can expect a fine starting from several hundred yuan, with confiscation of the equipment being standard procedure, plus 4 to 6 points deducted from your driver's license. In severe cases, fines can exceed a thousand yuan, and it may even be recorded in your file, affecting future driving. The key is not to take chances, as urban authorities are constantly monitoring such modifications. Simply put, driving honestly is the safest bet—illegal devices are a no-go.