How Long Does It Take to Detect a Red Light Violation?
2 Answers
If there are surveillance cameras, the violation will be captured. The notification of the violation via SMS typically takes about 3 to 7 days, with the latest being around 13 days. However, some cities now offer "Instant Electronic Police Capture Alerts," where you can receive an SMS notification within 5 to 10 minutes after being captured. Note that this notification does not confirm a violation; it merely serves as an alert. The final determination of whether a violation has occurred takes 3 to 7 days. If a violation is confirmed, you will receive another SMS notification. For violations captured by surveillance cameras, vehicle owners usually do not receive an immediate violation notification. There is a delay, and the duration may vary. After the electronic camera captures the violation, the relevant information must be transmitted through a dedicated channel to the traffic police management center. It is then compiled and forwarded to the relevant staff for verification. 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. After receiving the violation SMS, the vehicle owner must visit the local traffic police department to address the violation 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. Methods for Traffic Violation Queries: 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 the vehicle details 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 directly issued by a traffic officer, they must be handled at the violation location. SMS Query: Open the SMS interface on your phone, compose a message with "WZ [license plate number] [plate color]," and send it to 1062650001. Mobile App Query: Open the "Traffic Management 12123" app, select "Violation Query," and clear any unresolved violations. Offline Terminal Query: Visit the local traffic management office and use the self-service query machine to check recent violation records by entering the license plate number.
Last time I was driving, I accidentally ran a red light and was really worried about when the record would show up. From experience, electronic eyes capture violations in real-time, but the data needs to be uploaded to the traffic police system for processing. Generally, the fastest you can see an unprocessed alert is the same day on the 12123 APP, with urban areas updating within 1-3 days. Rural areas or small towns are slower, taking about a week. During holidays, the system is busy, and queries may be delayed up to two weeks. I always keep an eye on these things and recommend checking your APP account regularly to avoid overdue fines. Following traffic rules while driving can reduce risks—safety first and protecting your driving points is key. This way, you won’t stress about how long it takes for records to appear, and developing good driving habits is the most reliable approach.