Is it illegal to park a car in front of someone's house?

The Law on Road Traffic 2008 stipulates:

Standing vehicle is a vehicle that is stationary for the time needed to pick up or set down persons or to load or unload goods or to do other things.

Parked vehicle is a vehicle that is stationary for an unlimited time.

Article 18, Article 19 of the Law on Road Traffic 2008 stipulates the principles for drivers when stopping and parking as follows:

For standing and parking on roads:

- When standing or parking his/her vehicle on a road, the operator shall comply with the following provisions:

+ To give a signal to operators of other vehicles;

+ To stand or park his/her vehicle at places with large roadsides or on land plots outside the carriageway; where the roadside is narrow or not available, to stand or park the vehicle close to the right edge of the carriage along the direction of traffic;

+ Where a car stop or a parking lot has been built or designated, to stand or park the vehicle at such place;

+ After parking the vehicle, the operator may leave the vehicle only after taking safety measures, if the parked vehicle occupies part of the carriageway, the operator shall place danger warning signs in front of and behind the vehicle for the operators of other vehicles to notice;

+ Not to open the door of the vehicle or leave it open or alight from the vehicle when safety conditions are not assured;

+ When standing the vehicle, not to shut down the engine and leave the driving seat;

+ The vehicle parked on a steep road must have its wheels chocked.

- It is forbidden to stand or park a vehicle at the following positions:

+ On the left side of one+way carriages;

+ On bends and close the crests of slopes with insufficient visibility;

+ On bridges, under flyovers;

+ In parallel with another standing or parked vehicle;

+ On pedestrian crossings;

+ At an intersections and within 5 meters from the edge of the intersection;

+ At bus stops;

+ In front of and within 5 meters from both sides of the entrances of offices of agencies or organizations;

+ At road sections wide enough for only line of traffic;

+ Within railroad tracks’ safety areas;

+ At places where the vehicle would conceal road signs.

Standing and parking on streets

When standing or parking his/her vehicle on street, the operator shall comply with the provisions of Article 18 of this Law and the following provisions:

- To stand or park the vehicle close to the right kerb or pavement of the street along the direction of traffic;

- The distance between the nearest wheel and the kerb or pavement not exceeding 0.25 m and without obstructing or endangering traffic. In narrow streets, to stand or park the vehicle at positions at least 20 meters away from the vehicle parked on the other side.

- Not to stand or park the vehicle on tramways, on manholes of water drainage sewers, or openings of telephone or high-voltage electricity trenches or places exclusively reserved for fire engines to get water. Not to leave the vehicle on roadbed or pavement in contravention of regulations.

Thus, the law does not have regulations prohibiting standing and parking in front of people's houses. However, when standing and parking, you need to follow the rules prescribed in the law. Stopping or parking vehicles that do not comply with regulations may be subject to administrative penalties.

Article 5 of Decree 100/2019/ND-CP (amended and supplemented by Decree 123/2021/ND-CP) stipulating penalties for drivers of cars and similar vehicles violating road traffic regulations, in which:

- A fine ranging from VND 200,000 to VND 400,000 shall be imposed upon violations:

+ Stopping or parking without signaling;

+ Occupying part of the roadway when parking on the street without placing a warning sign as prescribed, except for the violations specified in Point c Clause 6 of this Article and parking at permissible positions;

- A fine ranging from VND 400,000 to VND 600,000 shall be imposed upon violations:

+ Stopping, parking on the roadway outside urban areas where the sidewalk is spacious enough;

+ Stopping or parking away from the right curb where the sidewalk is narrow or there is no sidewalk;

+ Stopping, parking against the traffic direction;

+ Stopping or parking on median barriers between carriageways;

+ Parking on a slope without choking the wheels; opening doors carelessly or leaving doors unsafely open;

+ Failure to stop the vehicle close to the sidewalk on the right side, or the right wheel is more than 0.25 m away from the side walk;

+ Stopping on the tramway or bus lane; stopping right above a manhole, cable duct opening, at a fire hydrant;

+ Stopping or parking at inappropriate positions where parking space is provided; stopping or parking at the crosswalk; stopping where a “Cấm dừng xe và đỗ xe” (No stopping and parking) sign is erected.

- A fine ranging from VND 800,000 to VND 1,000,000 shall be imposed upon violations:

+ Stopping or parking on the left side of a one-way road, on a curved road or near the top of the slope where view is blocked, on a bridge, under an overpass, parallel to a stopping or parking vehicle, at an intersection within 05 m from the edge of the intersection, at a bus stop, in front of or within 05 m beside a gate of an organization that has car way, on a road that is wide enough for only one lane; stopping or parking in a manner that block road signs; stopping or parking at median barriers;

+ Failure to stop the vehicle close to the sidewalk on the right side, or the distance from the right wheel to the sidewalk exceeds 0.25 m; stopping on the tramway or bus lane; stopping right above a manhole, cable duct opening, at a fire hydrant; parking on the sidewalk against the law; parking where a “Cấm đỗ xe” (No parking) sign or “Cấm dừng xe và đỗ xe” (No stopping and parking) sign is erected, except for the violations specified in Point i Clause 4 and Point b Clause 6 of this Article.

- A fine ranging from VND 2,000,000 to VND 3,000,000 shall be imposed upon violations:

+ Stopping or parking on the left of one-way street or on the left (along direction of motion) of dual carriageway; on curve section of the road or near top of slopes where vision is obstructed; on bridges, under overpass, parallel with another parking or stopping vehicle, except for violations specified in Point b Clause 6 of this Article;

+ Stopping, parking, making a u-turn against the rules and thus causing traffic congestion.

Thus, car drivers, if they stop or park their cars in front of other people's houses, will not be fined if they observe the above regulations. In the event of stopping or parking in violation of the regulations, occupying the roadway and failing to ensure the prescribed distance, or parking at prohibited locations, a fine of up to VND 3,000,000 may be imposed.

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