What are the penalties for installing sirens on private cars?
3 Answers
Private cars equipped with sirens will have them forcibly removed and confiscated by the traffic management department of the public security authorities, along with a fine. Other motor vehicles are not allowed to spray, install, or use the specialized or similar emblem patterns, sirens, or signal lights designated for the aforementioned vehicles.
My relative was actually fined for this. He installed a police siren on his car without authorization. Once during a traffic jam, he pressed it, and nearby traffic police immediately pulled him over. They issued an on-the-spot penalty: a 500-yuan fine plus 6 demerit points, and he had to pay to remove the device himself. The traffic police explained that sirens can only be installed on special-purpose vehicles, and installing one on a private car violates Article 97 of the Road Traffic Safety Law. Now, there's a record in the vehicle management system, and it's checked again during the annual inspection. Seriously, don’t install this just for novelty—getting caught not only costs money but also affects vehicle transfers.
A friend did this last year and got fined heavily. He was caught installing an ambulance-style siren. The traffic police first issued a 1,500 yuan fine, then took him to a designated repair shop to remove the equipment, which cost another 300 yuan in disassembly fees. The key point is that he got 12 demerit points and had to retake the theoretical driving test. The police explained that this constitutes disturbing public order, as installing sirens on private cars is considered illegal modification. For repeat offenders or those using sirens to clear the way, the penalties are even harsher and may include temporary license suspension. Now he doesn't dare touch any car modifications at all.
