What is the penalty for overloading by one person?
2 Answers
For private cars, overloading by one person results in a deduction of 2 points and a fine of 200 yuan; for passenger vehicles, overloading by one person leads to a deduction of 6 points. According to Article 92 of the Road Traffic Safety Law: If a road passenger vehicle carries passengers exceeding the rated capacity, a fine of 200 to 500 yuan shall be imposed; if the number of passengers exceeds 20% of the rated capacity or if goods are carried in violation of regulations, a fine of 500 to 2,000 yuan shall be imposed. Overloading refers to the actual load of a transportation vehicle exceeding the approved maximum allowable limit. Freight overloading usually means that the goods transported by a motor vehicle exceed the total load capacity of the freight vehicle. According to surveys by relevant departments, among various types of freight vehicles with a load capacity of 2.5 tons, the proportion of overloading and exceeding limits is as high as 30% to 85%.
Overloading by one person is a fairly common offense. I've seen many such cases. Generally, if a car's rated passenger capacity is, say, five people, carrying one extra person counts as a 20% overload, resulting in a fine of 200 yuan and a 1-point deduction on the driver's license. This is considered a light penalty, but if violations are repeated or cause an accident, the consequences can be much worse, with fines potentially doubling or more severe penalties. When I drive, I always remind passengers not to squeeze in, because overloading isn't just about the fine—it's dangerous: the car's braking distance increases, handling becomes worse, and if the car becomes unstable during a turn or gets rear-ended, both the driver and others suffer. Safety first—before every trip, I count the passengers to make sure we're not overloading. Developing this habit saves money and hassle. Don't take risks for convenience—while the fine may seem small, accumulating too many points could lead to a suspended license, and that's when regret sets in. Drive by the rules so everyone can get home safely.
