What does the three dots with a P mean on a motorcycle?
3 Answers
The three dots with a P on a motorcycle mean parking light. Introduction to parking: "Parking" is the action of "stopping the car" in Cantonese, a colloquial term derived from combining the concept of docking a boat with the English word "park," which has become a commonly used term through linguistic evolution, but it is not a foreign loanword. Introduction to parking assistance: Parking assistance is a safety aid device for parking or reversing a car. Currently, the mainstream system consists of a rearview camera and an in-car display. When reversing, the front display shows real-time video from the rearview camera, making reversing safer. Alternatively, some systems are composed of ultrasonic sensors (commonly known as probes), a controller, and a display (or buzzer).
I have researched motorcycle license plate security technology. The three small dots on the plate are actually an anti-theft design specifically to prevent illegal tampering or counterfeiting of license plates. They are made of special photosensitive materials. If someone attempts to pry, replace, or damage them, the imprints will change or leave obvious marks, allowing traffic police to quickly identify fake plates during inspections. In mainland China's standard license plates, these three dots are fixed in position, distributed near the plate numbers, serving as part of the security authentication. This technology has been promoted since the late 2000s and has significantly reduced motorcycle theft rates. Vehicle owners should avoid vigorously scrubbing these dots during daily maintenance to preserve their original condition.
From a traffic safety perspective, the three small dots on the license plate primarily serve an anti-theft function. These dots are intricately designed—if someone attempts to steal or alter the plate, the dots will break or change color, creating tamper-evident proof. During roadside inspections, traffic police rely on these details to verify the authenticity of the plate. This not only protects vehicle owners' property but also reduces the risk of black-market transactions. I believe riders should be aware of this—don’t underestimate these small details, as they safeguard overall road safety.
