If the car is full of luggage or you have to load or unload goods, is it legal to park in the area of the stop or stationary sign?
The traffic law determines the areas where stopping or standing is prohibited.
Generally, these areas are near intersections, crosswalks, or places with reduced visibility.
In which areas does the no parking indicator work?
Stopping is considered any voluntary stopping of a vehicle for more than 5 minutes.
According to the Highway Code 2024, drivers are not allowed to park:
- in all cases where voluntary stopping is prohibited;
- in the area of action of the indicator with the meaning “Parking prohibited” and the marking with the meaning of prohibiting parking;
- on public roads less than 6 m wide;
- in the right of the access roads that serve the properties next to the public roads;
- on slopes and ramps;
- in the place where the indicator with the meaning “Alternative parking” is installed, on a day or period other than the one allowed, or the indicator with the meaning “Parking area with limited duration” beyond the established period.
In which areas stopping is prohibited
According to the traffic law, stopping is the maneuver by which the driver stops in a place for less than 5 minutes.
Highway Code 2024 prohibits stopping:
- in the area of action of the “Stopping prohibited” indicator;
- on level crossings with the current railway and at a distance of less than 50 m before and after them;
- on bridges, on and under uneven passages, as well as on viaducts;
- in curves and in other places with reduced visibility below 50 m;
- on pedestrian crossings or less than 25 m before and after them;
- in intersections, including those with roundabout traffic, as well as in the preselection area where continuous markings are applied, and in their absence, at a distance of less than 25 m from the corner of the intersection;
- in the stations of the means of public transport of people, as well as less than 25 m before and after them;
- in front of another vehicle stopped on the carriageway, if this hinders the movement of two vehicles coming from opposite directions, as well as in front of the continuous marking, if the drivers of the other vehicles traveling in the same direction would be obliged, because of this, to cross this mark;
- in the place where the visibility of an indicator or light signal is obstructed;
- on the road sections where signs with the meanings “Narrow road”, “Priority for traffic in the opposite direction” or “Priority over traffic in the opposite direction” are installed;
- on the tracks for pedestrians and/or cyclists or on the lanes reserved for certain categories of vehicles, signaled as such;
- on the platform of the industrial railway or tram or less than 50 m from them, if the movement of vehicles on the tracks could be embarrassed or prevented;
- on the carriageway of highways, expressways and European national roads (E);
- on the sidewalk, if a space of at least 1 m is not provided for the movement of pedestrians;
- in places where overtaking is prohibited.
If you’re unloading cargo, can you park your car in the no-parking zone?
The traffic law establishes that a stop is not considered:
- immobilizing the vehicle as long as it is necessary to board or disembark some people, if this maneuver did not disturb the traffic on the respective public road;
- the immobilization of the vehicle with a maximum authorized mass of up to 3.5 tons, as long as it is necessary for the operation of distributing food goods to commercial units.
Therefore, if you park for less than 5 minutes, you can stop in the zone where this maneuver is prohibited. But only if you don’t mess up traffic, if passengers get on or off the vehicle or if you have cargo to unload.
However, the law does not establish any exception regarding the stationing. So, in the zone where parking is prohibited, you are not allowed to park, regardless of whether you have to load or unload goods from the car. Not even if you activate the hazard lights.
How long are you allowed to park your car “on breakdowns”
Hazard lights are only used when a malfunction occurs or a danger needs to be signaled. In any other case, it is irregular.
„Hazard lights are used (…) when the vehicle is involuntarily immobilized on the road, when the vehicle is moving very slowly and/or is itself a danger to other road users, when the vehicle or tram is being towed“, states the Romanian Police in a post published on Facebook.
In general, among the emergencies that justify the use of breakdowns are the following situations:
- the car has suffered a breakdown;
- the driver, passenger or other person requires assistance;
- the road is blocked/damaged;
- a road accident occurred.
Thus, the lack of a parking space or the loading of luggage into the car cannot be considered emergencies. And the police can fine you when you stop in a prohibited place, even if you are driving “on breakdowns”.
How much is the fine for illegal stopping and parking
If a driver is found to be illegally stopped, he can receive 4 or 5 fine points. That means a penalty between 660 lei and 825 lei.
In addition, the driver who leaves the car in an area where parking is not allowed can also be fined for illegal parking. This violation is sanctioned with 2 or 3 fine points, i.e. between 330 and 495 lei.
Thus, the penalty for irregular stopping and parking can reach 1,320 lei.
Source: www.promotor.ro
