How long does it take to receive a traffic violation SMS after running a red light?
2 Answers
After running a red light, the SMS notification for illegal photo capture 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 is not equivalent to a confirmed violation; it merely serves as a capture alert. The final determination of whether it constitutes a violation takes 3-7 days. If confirmed as a violation, a follow-up SMS notification will be sent. For violations captured by surveillance cameras, vehicle owners generally do not receive the violation SMS immediately. There is a delay, and the duration may vary. After an electronic camera captures a violation, the relevant violation information must be transmitted through a dedicated channel to the traffic police management center. It is then compiled and forwarded to the relevant traffic police personnel 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 traffic police department at the location of the violation within one month before the vehicle's annual inspection to address the issue. Generally, if a vehicle owner suspects a violation, they can use 15 days as a benchmark. If no violation SMS is received within 15 days, it is unlikely that the violation was confirmed. Traffic Violation Query Methods: Traffic violation queries refer to checking motor vehicle violations of traffic management regulations via online platforms or query terminals. Methods include website queries, phone queries, SMS queries, and mobile app queries. Website Query: Search for "vehicle violation query" and enter 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 of the violation or the vehicle's license plate issuance authority. For on-the-spot violations (e.g., those caught directly by traffic police), they must be handled at the violation location. SMS Query: Open the SMS composition interface on your phone, enter the violating license plate number in the message body, input 1062650001 as the recipient, and send the message. Mobile App Query: Open the "Traffic Management 12123" app, select "Violation Query," and resolve any outstanding violations.
I've been driving for over ten years, and there's really no fixed time for receiving a traffic violation text after running a red light—it could take anywhere from a few days to half a month. Big cities are more efficient; after being caught by a camera, the review is done the next day, and the text is sent. In smaller towns or during holidays, it might drag on for over ten days. After being captured by an electronic eye, there's still manual verification to confirm if it's a real violation before it's entered into the system and a reminder is sent. Once during the Spring Festival travel rush, I waited nearly two weeks to receive mine. So, pay extra attention to red lights while driving to avoid the anxiety of waiting for that text. Make it a habit to start only when the light turns green—it's safer and worry-free, so you won't have to stress about fines or points.
