What are the penalties for occupying charging station parking spaces?
4 Answers
Occupying charging station parking spaces will result in fines. There are relevant national regulations stipulating that newly built residential areas and office buildings must be equipped with sufficient charging parking spaces or reserve installation conditions. For example, in Beijing, according to related media reports, it was previously stipulated that 100% of parking spaces in new residential areas must meet the conditions for installing charging stations, at least 25% must be configured in office buildings, and the proportion of public charging facilities in public parking lots in each district should not be less than 10% of the parking spaces. More relevant information is as follows: Note 1: However, in actual implementation, many regions across the country still face issues where property management does not cooperate, making it impossible to install charging parking spaces, or car owners do not have fixed parking spaces and thus cannot install private charging stations. According to statistics, as of September 2019, there were over 313,400 new energy vehicles without accompanying charging stations, meaning these car owners need to use public charging stations. However, many charging parking spaces are long occupied by fuel vehicles. Note 2: If the fine regulations proposed by the Beijing Municipal Commission of Transport and the Beijing Traffic Management Bureau are implemented, it means Beijing will have specific penalty bases and clear fine amounts for non-electric vehicles occupying electric vehicle parking spaces. Other provinces and cities will also gradually introduce corresponding management measures. This will undoubtedly have an immediate effect on the nationwide phenomenon of non-electric vehicles occupying dedicated electric vehicle parking spaces in parking lots and on-street parking, preventing the latter from parking and charging.
I always drive to and from work and notice that penalties for occupying charging station parking spaces are quite common. Typically, it's a direct fine, ranging from 400 to 1,000 yuan depending on the region—for example, Beijing can fine up to 1,000 yuan, while Guangzhou usually imposes a 500-yuan penalty. If your car is parked there and caught by surveillance cameras or spotted by an attendant, you'll get a ticket. I’ve even seen cases where cars were towed, with towing fees costing an additional 500 to 1,000 yuan, and the owner had to spend half a day dealing with it at the traffic management office. Once in Shanghai, I saw a gas car occupying a charging spot and getting towed—the owner later complained about spending 800 yuan to resolve it. Occupying these spots is unfair to EV drivers who can’t charge their vehicles. I suggest checking signage before parking—don’t misuse green-designated spots. Apps like Baidu Maps can help identify reserved spots in advance, and forming this habit can avoid trouble. Remember, it’s not just about the money—it wastes public resources and harms everyone, including yourself.
I place great importance on urban order, and occupying charging station parking spaces should absolutely not be done. The usual penalty is a fine ranging from 400 to 1000 yuan, with some major cities imposing heavier fines—800 yuan is common in Shenzhen. If a car parked there blocks charging facilities, the administrator may call for a tow truck, with fees around 1000 yuan, and the owner still has to go through the hassle of retrieving the vehicle. What's most frustrating is that occupiers slow down the promotion of electric vehicles. I often see EV owners circling around multiple times due to no available charging spots, increasing exhaust emissions. My advice is to carefully check parking signs or use parking tools in WeChat to verify the type of parking space—don’t be lazy for those few seconds. Environmental protection isn’t just talk; respecting dedicated spaces is contributing to the cause while saving on fines, which benefits everyone.
At our parking facility, dealing with vehicles occupying EV charging spots is straightforward: first, a ticket is issued with a fine of around 500 yuan, typically ranging from 400 to 1,000; in severe cases, the vehicle gets towed, incurring an additional towing fee of 500 to 800 yuan, and the owner must present documentation to retrieve it. Clear signage marks these as electric vehicle-only spaces—non-EV owners occupying them will be fined. I advise drivers to scan the area before parking or use navigation apps that indicate parking types—simple and hassle-free. One oversight can lead to hefty consequences, so don’t test the rules.
