Can Running a Red Light Be Detected on the Same Day?

[StElisa]

Running a red light generally cannot be detected on the same day. After running a red light, it usually takes 3 to 7 days for the violation to be recorded, with the latest being no more than 13 working days. However, some cities now offer "instant electronic police capture notifications," where you can receive an SMS notification within 5-10 minutes of being captured. But this notification does not equate to a confirmed violation; it merely serves as a capture alert. The final determination of whether it is a violation still takes 3-7 days. If it is indeed a violation, you will receive another SMS notification. For traffic violations captured by surveillance cameras, vehicle owners typically do not receive an immediate violation notification via SMS. There is usually a delay, and the duration of this delay can vary. This is because after an electronic camera captures a violation, the relevant violation information needs to be transmitted through a dedicated channel to the traffic police management center. It is then compiled and forwarded to the relevant traffic police department staff for verification. Only after the violation is confirmed will the system automatically retrieve the vehicle owner's phone number based on the license plate information and send the violation details via SMS. After receiving the violation SMS, the vehicle owner must go to the traffic police department where the violation occurred to address it within one month before the vehicle's annual inspection. Generally, if a vehicle owner suspects a violation, they can use 15 days as a benchmark. If no violation SMS is received within 15 days, it is likely that no violation was recorded. Methods for Traffic Violation Queries: Traffic violation queries refer to checking motor vehicle violations of traffic regulations through online platforms or query terminals. Methods for checking traffic violations include website queries, phone queries, SMS queries, and mobile app queries. Website Query: You can search for "vehicle violation query" and enter your vehicle information to check. Phone Query: To inquire about violations, you can call local 114 (area code + 114) or 12580 for confirmation. Violations can only be processed at the traffic police department where the violation occurred or where the vehicle's license plate was issued. For on-the-spot violations, such as those directly caught by a traffic officer, they must be handled at the location of the violation. SMS Query: Open the SMS interface on your phone; enter the license plate number of the violating vehicle in the message content; input 1062650001 as the recipient and click send. Mobile App Query: Open the Traffic Management 12123 app, select "violation query," and find any unprocessed violations to clear them.

[StMadelyn]

Let's talk about whether you can check for running a red light on the same day. I'm the kind of driver who likes to study the rules, and my friends often ask me this question. Simply put, it's very difficult to check on the same day, and in most cases, it's not possible. Why is that? After a red light camera captures a violation, the footage first needs to be sent to a processing center, where it is reviewed by a specialist or AI to ensure it's not a false alarm. Only then is the data uploaded to the system, such as local traffic police databases or the 12123 app. In big cities like Beijing, Shanghai, or Guangzhou, the process might be faster, but if there are many cameras and processing is slow, it could take 24-48 hours. In smaller towns, it's even slower, possibly taking two or three days. If you're worried, I suggest not rushing to check on the same day. Wait a day or two and then refresh the official app. Driving should always be steady—running a red light really isn't worth it. Fines and points are minor issues; what's worse is if an accident happens and someone gets hurt. Develop the habit of following the rules, pay attention to app notifications, and be prepared in advance.