Will I be penalized for stopping briefly in a no-parking zone?
3 Answers
Stopping briefly in a no-parking zone will result in penalty points. Here are some parking-related precautions: When waiting at a red light, shift to N gear instead of keeping it in D gear while pressing the brake: Many people keep the gear in D and press the brake for convenience when waiting at a red light or in traffic. This is actually incorrect. Firstly, it increases fuel consumption, and more importantly, if a rear-end collision occurs, the car may be pushed forward, and keeping the gear in D can easily damage the transmission. Therefore, when waiting at a red light for an extended period, shift to N gear and engage the handbrake, which not only saves fuel but also allows you to rest your foot. When accelerating to overtake, avoid keeping the accelerator pressed continuously: If you keep the accelerator pressed, the car's downshift will be sluggish. The correct approach is to press the accelerator to raise the RPM to between 2000 and 2500, then briefly release the accelerator, at which point you'll notice the car downshifting. If the car has an S gear, it's even simpler—just shift to S gear when overtaking, and the transmission will respond more sensitively, resulting in faster acceleration.
As a veteran driver with over a decade of experience, I have personal insights about whether stopping in no-parking zones will result in penalty points. Generally speaking, if you make a brief stop for just a few seconds—such as when the driver gets out to buy something or pick up/drop off passengers—traffic police might turn a blind eye and not issue penalty points immediately. However, the risk is significant. I once stopped on a main city road to wait for a friend for just 30 seconds, got caught by a traffic camera, and was fined 200 yuan plus 3 penalty points because the duration exceeded the allowed limit and was deemed illegal parking. In practice, regulations vary by location, so it's best to avoid lingering in no-parking zones and instead find a legal temporary stopping spot for safety. This helps avoid fines and reduces the risk of traffic accidents. Parking rules exist to protect everyone's safety—don’t lose big for small gains.
From a traffic regulation perspective, briefly stopping in a no-parking zone may not necessarily result in penalty points, provided it's non-purposeful stopping—such as merely slowing down or momentary halting. However, prolonged stopping, especially with passenger boarding/alighting actions, will be considered illegal parking, typically penalized with 3 demerit points and a 200 RMB fine. Enforcement varies by region: urban centers with more surveillance cameras tend to be stricter, while rural areas may have fewer manual checks. Drivers are advised to familiarize themselves with local rules, use navigation apps to locate designated stopping points, and avoid unnecessary fines or safety risks caused by brief stops. The regulation's essence is to prevent congestion and accidents—cultivating good driving habits remains paramount.
