Does Crossing the Stop Line with Front Wheels Count as Running a Red Light?
3 Answers
Crossing the stop line with front wheels during a red light does not count as running a red light. Running a red light refers to the act of a motor vehicle violating traffic signal instructions by crossing the stop line and continuing to drive when the red light is on and prohibits passage. Determining a red light violation requires at least three pieces of photographic evidence: the vehicle has not left the stop line when the red light is on; the vehicle has passed the intersection when the red light is on; the vehicle has crossed the line and continued to move forward when the red light is on. Article 26 of the "Road Traffic Safety Law": Traffic signals consist of red, green, and yellow lights. The red light indicates prohibition of passage, the green light indicates permission to pass, and the yellow light indicates a warning. Article 44: Motor vehicles passing through intersections shall do so in accordance with traffic signals, traffic signs, traffic markings, or the command of traffic police. Article 2, Paragraph 1, Subparagraph 2 of the "Scoring Standards for Road Traffic Safety Violations" stipulates that driving a motor vehicle in violation of road traffic signals will result in a deduction of 6 points per violation. Ways to avoid running a red light: When there is an arrow signal light, follow the arrow light; otherwise, follow the circular light; When the red light is on, the front of the vehicle must not cross the stop line; When the yellow light is on, the front of the vehicle must not cross the stop line; When the green light just flashes, if the distance is close and the speed is fast, you should pass through, as it may be impossible to stop in time and you might cross the stop line; if the distance is far, the speed is slow, or the intersection is congested, you should stop; When driving in the city, develop the habit of looking for traffic lights whenever you see a crosswalk or stop line and approach an intersection.
I have plenty of experience with this issue. Last time when I drove past a hospital intersection, my front wheels had just crossed the line as the yellow light flashed. After slamming on the brakes, my car ended up sideways on the crosswalk, and my heart was in my throat. Later, I checked the 12123 app and found no violation record. I specifically asked a traffic police friend about it: The electronic eye needs three photos to capture a red-light running violation—the front wheels crossing the line, the rear wheels crossing the line, and the car reaching the opposite intersection. As long as you stop and stay put after the red light turns on, it generally doesn’t count as running a red light. But be careful—if your entire car body has crossed the stop line, even if you don’t proceed further, it still counts as a violation.
As a rideshare driver completing 30 trips daily, I've researched this thoroughly. If your front wheels just cross the line when the light turns red, you're actually fine - the cameras won't ticket you for that. But if you continue creeping forward or worse, attempt to reverse or make a U-turn, the traffic enforcement system will definitely record your violation. A special reminder: pay extra attention to braking distance during rainy weather. Once my wheels locked up on wet pavement, causing me to slide past the stop line by half a car length, resulting in a ticket. The golden rule? When you see yellow, start slowing down immediately. Those extra 30 seconds of waiting are far better than playing Russian roulette with traffic signals.
