How long after running a red light can you receive notification?
2 Answers
With surveillance cameras in place, violations will be captured. The notification SMS for traffic violations typically arrives within 3 to 7 days, with a maximum delay of around 13 days. However, some cities now offer "instant electronic police capture alerts," where you can receive an SMS notification within 5-10 minutes of being captured. Note that this notification does not confirm a violation; it merely serves as a capture alert. Final confirmation of whether it constitutes a violation takes 3-7 days. If confirmed as a violation, you will receive another SMS notification. For traffic violations captured by surveillance cameras, vehicle owners generally do not receive the violation SMS immediately; there is a delay, which can vary in length. After an electronic camera captures a violation, the relevant information must be transmitted through a dedicated channel to the traffic police management center, where it is compiled and then verified by relevant staff. Once confirmed as a violation, the system automatically retrieves the vehicle owner's phone number based on the license plate information and sends the violation details via SMS. Only then does the owner receive the corresponding violation notification. After receiving the violation SMS, the vehicle owner must visit the local traffic police department where the violation occurred to address the issue, ideally within one month before the vehicle's annual inspection. Generally, if you suspect a violation, you can use 15 days as a benchmark. If no violation SMS is received within 15 days, it is likely that no violation was recorded. Traffic violation query methods: Traffic violation queries refer to checking motor vehicle violations of traffic regulations through online platforms or query terminals. Methods include website queries, phone queries, SMS queries, mobile app queries, and offline terminal queries. Website query: Search for "vehicle violation query" and enter your vehicle information to check. Phone query: Dial local 114 (area code + 114) or 12580 to confirm traffic violations. Violations can only be processed at the location where they occurred or where the vehicle is registered. For on-the-spot violations, such as those caught directly by traffic police, they must be handled at the violation location. SMS query: Open your phone's SMS interface, compose a message with "WZ [license plate number] [license plate color]," and send it to 1062650001. Mobile app query: Open the "Traffic Management 12123" app, select "Violation Query," and address any unresolved violations. Offline terminal query: Visit the local traffic management office and use the self-service terminal to enter your license plate number and check recent violation records.
After driving for so many years, I feel there's no fixed timeline for receiving a traffic light violation notice. In big cities with surveillance cameras, notifications might come faster—I've seen friends get a text in as little as 3 days, but typically it takes 7 to 10 days. The reason? Recorded footage needs manual review to confirm the violation before issuing a notice. In smaller towns or areas with outdated equipment, it might stretch to two weeks. The key is not to obsess over the timing—running red lights is extremely dangerous and prone to accidents; I've nearly been in rear-end collisions myself. It's wise to install a dash cam to prevent wrongful penalties. If you do get a notice, handle the fine promptly to avoid point deductions.
