What are the penalties for vehicle overloading, and are there fines?
2 Answers
For private cars, overloading by one person results in a 2-point deduction and a fine. For passenger vehicles, overloading by one person leads to a 6-point deduction. Generally, exceeding the limit by 50% incurs a fine and the revocation of the driver's license. The maximum capacity for private cars is only 5 people. Carrying just one extra person means an overloading rate of up to 20%, so even a slight oversight could result in a heavy penalty of a 6-point deduction.
Last time my friend drove to the countryside for an outing, he squeezed six people into a five-seater car and got pulled over by traffic police at the highway entrance. He was fined 300 yuan and had 3 points deducted from his license. It really wasn’t worth it—overcrowding isn’t just illegal, it’s also extremely dangerous: braking distance increases, and sharp turns become more prone to rollovers. I’ve checked the regulations—private vehicle overloading is penalized in three tiers: up to 20% over capacity results in a 200-500 yuan fine and 3 points deducted; 20%-50% over leads to a 500-2000 yuan fine and 6 points deducted; exceeding 50% means an instant 12-point deduction. For commercial vehicles, the penalties are even harsher. Now, the first thing I do when getting in a car is count heads—I’d rather make an extra trip than gamble with safety. After all, safety is far more important than convenience.
