Does the vehicle owner need to be present when handling traffic violations for someone else?
2 Answers
Whether the vehicle owner needs to be present to handle a traffic violation depends on the situation. If it is an on-the-spot penalty ticket, the fine can be paid at the bank immediately, regardless of whether the owner is present or not. If it is just a traffic violation notice, it can be divided into two scenarios: If the notice shows a violation captured by an electronic police camera: If the violation was captured from the front, the owner must handle it in person. If the violation was captured from the rear, anyone with a valid driver's license can handle it. It does not necessarily have to be the owner, but the person accepting the penalty (including points deduction) must be present to process the violation. Generally, there are two types of vehicle violation notices: one issued by traffic police (traffic police department) and another issued by the city supervision team (urban management bureau) for illegal parking. Due to the vast geographical differences across the country, processing methods may vary. Some places handle violations at the same location, while others do not. Typically, the notice will specify the processing location and working hours, so it is important to review these details carefully when accepting the penalty. When accepting the penalty, please bring the vehicle registration certificate for the illegally parked vehicle and the driver's license of the person handling the violation (or the representative). The notice usually requires the penalty to be processed within 15 days. Delayed processing will not increase the penalty amount or severity. After completing the penalty process for the traffic violation, the fine must be paid at a bank. The violation processing window does not accept direct payments. All processed traffic violations must be paid within 15 days. Failure to pay the fine on time will result in an additional 3% penalty per day.
When dealing with traffic violations, the vehicle owner does not necessarily need to be present in person. You can authorize someone else to handle it on your behalf, but you need to bring the original letter of authorization from the owner, a copy of the owner's ID card, the agent's original ID card, and the driver's license, among other documents. Last year, I helped my brother handle it once—he just wrote a simple authorization letter for me, and I submitted the materials and made the payment at the traffic police station window. The whole process took about 15 minutes. The key is to prepare all the documents in advance; otherwise, you might make a wasted trip. For certain types of special violations, such as those involving point deductions, the owner may need to sign for confirmation. Overall, authorizing someone else is very convenient, but it's advisable to check the specific requirements with the local traffic police department beforehand to avoid wasting time.
