What are the regulations for driver violation points and penalties?
2 Answers
Motor vehicle drivers who commit any of the following traffic violations will be penalized with 12 demerit points at once: 1. Driving under the influence of alcohol; 2. Driving a motor vehicle during the period when the motor vehicle driving license is temporarily suspended; 3. Forcibly passing in violation of traffic control regulations and refusing to listen to dissuasion; 4. Using another person's motor vehicle driving license to drive a motor vehicle; 5. Driving a motor vehicle that does not match the permitted vehicle type; 6. Failing to pay fines for more than three months or failing to pay fines on time for two consecutive times. Motor vehicle drivers who commit any of the following traffic violations will be penalized with 6 demerit points at once: 1. Driving after drinking alcohol; 2. Highway passenger vehicles carrying more than 20% of the approved number of passengers or carrying goods in violation of regulations; 3. Trucks carrying goods exceeding 30% of the approved load capacity or carrying passengers in violation of regulations; 4. Motor vehicles driving more than 50% over the prescribed speed limit; 5. Parking on the highway in violation of regulations; 6. Reversing, driving in the opposite direction, or making a U-turn by crossing the central divider on the highway.
I've been driving for almost twenty years and I'm quite familiar with the penalty point system for traffic violations. Common examples include exceeding the speed limit by 20%, which usually results in 6 penalty points and a fine ranging from 200 to 500 yuan. If you exceed the limit by more than 50%, it's an immediate 12-point deduction and license revocation, which has serious consequences. Drunk driving is even harsher—12 points deducted in one go, a fine of over 1,000 yuan, and mandatory participation in an educational course. Running a red light also incurs 6 penalty points and a fine. If you accumulate a total of 12 points, you'll have to attend a seven-day training course and retake the driving test to get your license back—it's quite a hassle. Illegal parking in some areas results in 3 penalty points and a fine of around 100 yuan, but with so many cameras in cities, it's easy to get caught. I believe these rules are in place for safety reasons, so I always pay extra attention to speed limits, especially near intersections and schools where there are more cameras and higher chances of getting caught. In case of an accident, insurance companies may also raise your premiums.
