How Long Does It Take to Receive a Red Light Violation Notification?
2 Answers
After running a red light, the violation notification SMS is usually received 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. The final determination of whether a violation occurred takes 3-7 days. If a violation is confirmed, you will receive another SMS notification. For traffic violations captured by surveillance cameras, vehicle owners generally do not receive an immediate violation SMS. There is a delay, and the duration varies. After an electronic camera captures a violation, the relevant information must be transmitted through a dedicated channel to the traffic police management center. It is then compiled and reviewed by relevant staff. If 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 traffic police department at the location of the violation within one month before the vehicle's annual inspection. If you suspect a violation but have not received an SMS after 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 via the internet or query terminals. There are five ways to query traffic violations: traffic branch terminal queries, vehicle violation website queries, phone queries, SMS queries, and mobile app queries. Website Query: Search for "vehicle violation query" and enter your vehicle details. Phone Query: Call local 114 (area code + 114) or 12580 to confirm violations. Violations can only be processed at the location of the violation or the vehicle's registration jurisdiction. For on-the-spot violations (e.g., caught by an officer), processing must occur at the violation location. SMS Query: Open your phone's messaging app, 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 resolve any outstanding violations.
I ran a red light last month and got caught by a traffic camera at an urban intersection. It took about 9 days to receive the notification push from the traffic app. The processing time really depends on the location—big cities with advanced equipment might send it within a week, while smaller towns with slower processing can sometimes take over two weeks. The whole process includes image uploads and manual verification to avoid false captures, so don’t expect instant results. To avoid this, stay focused while driving and don’t rush through lights—it’s both dangerous and likely to result in fines. I’ve heard that with recent tech upgrades, some cities now use AI to automatically recognize faces and license plates, speeding up notifications to just a few days. In any case, stay patient and wait it out—following traffic rules is always the most cost-effective approach.
