What signs and regulations must be followed when parking a car?

The image is being widely shared and creating heated debate on social networking forums. Photo: Otofun

Signs prohibiting stopping and parking according to law

Circular 54/2019/TT-BGTVT on National Technical Regulations on Road Signs stipulates standards for no stopping and no parking signs as follows:

Sign P.130 "No stopping and parking":

Sign P.130 "No stopping and parking"

- To indicate a place where stopping and parking is prohibited, place sign P.130 "No stopping and parking".

- The sign prohibits all motor vehicles from stopping and parking on the side of the road where the sign is placed, except for vehicles with priority as prescribed. For buses running on prescribed routes, appropriate stopping locations are indicated.

Plate P.135 "All prohibitions removed".

- The prohibition of the sign begins from the location of the sign to the intersection or to the designated parking or stopping location (or to the location of sign P.135 "End of all prohibitions" if many other prohibition signs are no longer effective at the same time).

If special indication is required, the starting position of the prohibition must use sign number S.503f and the ending position must use sign number S.503d "Direction of effect of sign" placed below the main sign.

- In case stopping and parking is only prohibited during certain times, use license plate S.508 (a, b).

- Within the effective area of ​​the sign, if there is an opening in the median strip allowing vehicles to turn around, it is necessary to place an additional sign P.130.

Sign P.131 (a,b,c) "No parking":

- To indicate a prohibited parking area except for priority vehicles according to regulations, place sign P.131 (a,b,c) "No parking".

- Sign P.131a prohibits motor vehicles from parking on the side of the road where the sign is placed.

- Sign P.131b is effective in prohibiting motor vehicles from parking on the side of the road with the sign on odd days and sign P.131c on even days.

- The validity and duration of the parking ban apply according to the provisions in points c and d, section B.30 for license plate P.130.

- Within the effective area of ​​the sign, if there is an opening in the median strip allowing vehicles to turn around, a reminder sign must be placed.

Legal regulations on stopping and parking

Many drivers believe that as long as there are no prohibition signs, they can stop and park freely. However, Article 18 of the 2008 Road Traffic Law stipulates that even if there are no prohibition signs, drivers are not allowed to stop or park in the following 11 locations:

1. Left side of one-way street;

2. On curves and near the top of slopes where visibility is obstructed;

3. On bridges, under overpasses;

4. Parallel to another vehicle that is stopped or parked;

5. On the pedestrian crossing;

6. At intersections and within 5m from the edge of the intersection;

7. Bus stop;

8. In front of the gate and within 5m on both sides of the gate of the headquarters of agencies and organizations;

9. Where the road section is only wide enough for one lane;

10. Within the safety range of the railway;

11. Obscuring road signs.

In addition, Article 19 of the 2008 Road Traffic Law also has quite specific regulations on stopping and parking on the street. Accordingly, drivers when stopping or parking on the street must comply with the following:

- Vehicles must be stopped or parked close to the curb or sidewalk on the right side of the road in the direction of travel; the nearest wheel must not be more than 0.25 meters from the curb or sidewalk and must not obstruct or endanger traffic. In case of narrow streets, vehicles must be stopped or parked at least 20 meters away from cars parked on the other side of the road.

- Do not stop or park on tram tracks, on drainage manholes, telephone or high voltage power lines, areas reserved for fire trucks to get water, etc.

Violations of parking regulations may be handled under Article 5 of Decree 100/2019/ND-CP, amended by Decree 123/2021/ND-CP, with fines ranging from VND200,000 to VND12 million.

Thus, in addition to the above cases and places with prohibited signs according to the law, drivers can stop and park on the street. Some homeowners, business households, and restaurants arbitrarily erecting prohibition signs, placing stakes, erecting barriers, or installing trap locks... to prevent cars from stopping and parking is a violation of the law.

Roadside encroachment may face criminal charges

People with houses on the street only have the right to own, use and manage real estate according to the boundaries recorded in the documents proving ownership and use. As for the sidewalk and road in front of people's houses, they are public property, managed by the state, everyone is equal in exploiting and using them.

According to Clause 10, Article 11, Decree 100/2019/ND-CP, the act of arbitrarily placing obstacles or installing equipment on the road will be subject to a fine of 6-8 million VND for individuals. More seriously, this act can be prosecuted for criminal liability for obstructing road traffic under Article 261 of the Penal Code.If the act of placing or leaving other obstacles that obstruct road traffic; illegally using the sidewalk, pavement, or roadway causes death or harm to the health of a person with a bodily injury rate of 61% or more; or causes property damage from 100 million VND to less than 500 million VND, the offender may be sentenced to imprisonment, a fine from 30 million VND to 100 million VND, non-custodial reform for up to 3 years, or imprisonment from 6 months to 3 years.