Can Temporary License Plates Run Red Lights?
2 Answers
Temporary license plates cannot run red lights. Temporary license plates are paper motor vehicle license plates that allow motor vehicles to temporarily drive on the road. Driving a motor vehicle in violation of traffic signal lights will result in penalty points. Traffic violation penalties are not related to temporary or formal license plates but are primarily imposed for illegal driving behavior. Paper motor vehicle license plates that allow temporary road use are also called temporary driving license plates, which refer to temporary vehicle driving certificates issued by the public security vehicle management department for newly purchased vehicles before official registration. The validity period of temporary license plates generally does not exceed thirty days. There are four types of temporary license plates: temporary license plates for administrative jurisdictions, temporary license plates for cross-administrative jurisdictions, temporary license plates for testing purposes, and temporary license plates for special-type motor vehicles.
As someone who cares deeply about traffic safety, I fully understand that temporary license plates absolutely cannot run red lights. This has nothing to do with the type of license plate but is a fundamental rule. Temporary plates only represent temporary registration permission for the vehicle to be on the road, but legally they are no different from regular plates and must obey traffic signals. Running a red light is extremely dangerous—at best, it results in fines and demerit points; at worst, it can cause collisions and harm innocent people. I’ve personally experienced a situation where a car with temporary plates ignored a red light and nearly hit a pedestrian—that heart-pounding lesson is unforgettable. When driving a new car, you must be especially vigilant as the mechanical break-in period may affect braking response. Therefore, drivers must always stay focused and develop the habit of only proceeding on green lights. Safety isn’t just a slogan—it’s every driver’s protective charm.
