Will I Be Fined for Driving with the Trunk Open?
4 Answers
Driving with the trunk open is considered a traffic violation, and the vehicle may be stopped by traffic police and penalized. Generally, this results in a fine, but the driver may only receive a warning without any points deducted. Upon being reminded by the traffic police, the driver must promptly close the trunk securely. According to Article 9 of the 'Measures for the Scoring Management of Road Traffic Safety Violations,' if the trunk being open blocks the license plate, it constitutes the violation of 'intentionally obscuring the license plate.' In such cases, the traffic management authorities will impose a fine and deduct 12 points. Additionally, an improperly closed trunk can obstruct the driver's visibility and affect safe driving, potentially interfering with other vehicles and pedestrians on the road. The traffic police may impose a fine and deduct three points, as this situation can easily lead to traffic accidents and poses significant safety hazards. Therefore, the traffic police may impose stricter penalties on the driver to prevent such behavior from recurring. According to Article 62 of the 'Regulations for the Implementation of the Road Traffic Safety Law of the People's Republic of China,' the following acts are prohibited while driving a motor vehicle: driving with the doors or trunk not properly closed; hanging or placing items within the front or rear windows that obstruct the driver's view; making or receiving handheld phone calls, watching TV, or engaging in other activities that hinder safe driving; stalling or coasting in neutral on steep slopes; or throwing items onto the road. If there are items in the trunk, they may be lost when driving on bumpy roads, leading to financial losses. If these items cause damage to vehicles behind, the driver may also be liable for repair costs.
Last time I went out for delivery, I forgot to close the trunk and drove dozens of kilometers with it open. Eventually, I was pulled over by a patrol officer and fined 200 yuan! What a huge loss. Actually, according to the law, an unsecured trunk is considered unsafe driving, as it can easily cause cargo to fall or obstruct the view, posing a significant accident risk. I checked online, and the fines vary by region, but generally range between 100 to 300 yuan. Since then, I've developed a habit of walking around the car to check everything before starting it. I'd rather waste a few minutes than suffer the consequences of cutting corners. To be honest, such fines aren't the scariest part—what if something falls and hits another car or a pedestrian? The compensation could be much higher, making it totally not worth it. We drivers really need to pay attention to details to avoid major losses for minor oversights.
Having driven for nearly 30 years, I've seen quite a few cases where the trunk was left unclosed. Generally, if caught by the police, you can expect a fine of around 200 yuan, as it violates the dangerous driving regulations under traffic rules. Beyond the hefty fine, the real issue is the significant safety hazard—items in the trunk, like suitcases or tools, can fly out and injure people at any moment. I've witnessed accident scenes, and they were truly horrific. Personally, I always remind myself to double-check that the trunk is securely closed before driving. I recommend getting a trunk lock reminder device or developing a habit of manually checking the trunk before setting off. Prevention is always better than regret.
Driving with an unlatched trunk? You'll definitely get fined. According to traffic laws, it's considered improper loading and classified as unsafe driving, with fines typically around 200 yuan. Once I was in a hurry and didn't close the trunk properly. After driving for a while, I was caught by a traffic camera, received a ticket, and even got points deducted. From experience, it's not just illegal—it can also lead to debris falling and injuring pedestrians or causing rear-end collisions. To avoid these risks, I recommend taking an extra second when locking your car to ensure the trunk is securely closed, especially during rainy weather or highway driving when the risks are higher.
