How Far Over the Stop Line Constitutes Running a Red Light?
4 Answers
If a vehicle crosses the stop line during a red light but stops immediately, it will not be considered as running a red light. When the entire vehicle crosses the stop line, meaning both the front and rear wheels have passed the stop line but have not crossed the opposite stop line, it is referred to as over-line stopping. According to Article 4, Item 5 of the "Scoring Standards for Road Traffic Safety Violations": Failing to drive or stop as required at an intersection results in a 2-point penalty. The act of running a red light is clearly defined in the "Road Traffic Safety Law." Article 26 states that traffic signals consist of red, green, and yellow lights. A red light indicates prohibition of passage, a green light permits passage, and a yellow light serves as a warning. A red light is a traffic signal prohibiting passage, and if a vehicle proceeds through an intersection during a red light, it constitutes the traffic violation of running a red light. According to Article 44 of the "Road Traffic Safety Law," motor vehicles passing through intersections must comply with traffic signals, signs, markings, or the directions of traffic police. Violating traffic signal rules, such as running a red light, results in a 6-point penalty. Running a red light refers to the act where, when the vehicle is within the stop line, the forward direction is already a red light, but the vehicle continues to move forward until both the front and rear wheels have completely crossed the stop line. This is determined by capturing three photos via electronic cameras: A photo of the vehicle crossing the intersection stop line, showing the red light and license plate number. A photo of the vehicle completely crossing the stop line, showing the red light and license plate number. A photo of the vehicle continuing to move, comparing to check if the vehicle's position has changed, showing the red light and license plate number. If these three photos are captured, the vehicle is determined to have run a red light. Running a red light is not considered illegal under the following circumstances: Yielding to emergency vehicles: Yielding to special vehicles such as ambulances or fire trucks. If a violation is captured by surveillance cameras due to yielding to emergency vehicles, the act of running a red light will not be recorded during manual review. Even if recorded, you can apply for reconsideration at the traffic police department. Extreme weather: When visibility is extremely low, making it difficult even for electronic police to clearly see the traffic lights. Photos of the violation may be blurry, and if you accidentally run a red light, the traffic police will not impose a penalty. Emergency situations: If a citizen transports a patient with a critical condition, they can provide proof from the hospital or the person being assisted to the traffic police for verification. If confirmed, the violation record can be expunged. If possible, it is best to call an ambulance to avoid running a red light and causing a traffic accident. Traffic police direction: During peak commuting hours, traffic police may temporarily direct traffic at major intersections. Drivers must follow the gestures of the traffic police.
Over the years I've been driving, people often ask how far past the stop line counts as running a red light. Actually, the key isn't the distance, but whether your car continues moving past that line after the light turns red. If you just touch the line but stop immediately without moving further, most places don't count it as running the light. However, once the camera captures your front and rear positions plus movement trajectory, the system automatically determines it as a violation. A confirmed red-light run occurs when your rear wheels cross the line and you keep going. I think this rule makes perfect sense - safety comes first, and charging through red lights easily causes accidents. In daily driving, I recommend slowing down early to leave margin, don't hesitate right at the line, and don't imitate speedsters who think slipping through quickly doesn't count. If you get photographed, the fine of several hundred yuan plus points deduction will affect your insurance premiums - way more troublesome. Honestly waiting for the light is most worry-free, especially for beginners who should develop this habit - don't risk it to save a few seconds.
As someone who has been driving for over a decade, I believe whether crossing the stop line counts as running a red light depends on whether your actions constitute 'running' when the light is red. For example, if your front wheels just touch the line and you stop completely, it's usually fine. But if your rear wheels cross the line and you're still moving, it's generally considered running the red. Traffic cameras judge this by comparing multiple photos to assess movement distance—they don't measure exact distances but rather look at position and motion. This is quite important because, from a safety perspective, you must come to a complete stop every time the light turns red. From my experience, I'm extra cautious in poor road conditions. In rain or snow, the longer braking distance might cause you to touch the line, but stopping completely usually isn't a big issue. Overall, stay focused while driving, maintain proper following distance, anticipate signal changes, and avoid rushing through lights to prevent trouble.
Regarding running a red light by crossing the stop line, my understanding is that it counts if the vehicle completely crosses the line and moves after the red light turns on. There's no specific distance defined; the camera mainly captures whether the vehicle's position exceeds the line and its movement state. Generally, stopping after crossing the line at a red light doesn't count, but continuing to move forward is a violation. The rule is designed this way to protect intersection order and prevent accidents. When driving, I always remind myself not to get distracted by phones or chatting, and to slow down when the light turns yellow to prepare to stop, avoiding the awkward situation of being misunderstood for crossing the line. Safe driving always comes first.
