How long does it usually take to receive a text message after running a red light?
3 Answers
After running a red light, you will generally receive a notification within 3 to 7 days, with the latest being around 13 days. However, some cities have now introduced "instant electronic police capture alerts," where you can receive a text message notification within 5-10 minutes of being captured. However, this notification does not equate to a traffic violation; it is merely a capture alert. Whether it is ultimately deemed a violation will take 3-7 days to confirm. If it is indeed a violation, you will receive another text message notification. For traffic violations captured by surveillance cameras, vehicle owners usually do not receive the violation text message immediately. There is a delay, and the length of this delay can vary. This is because after the electronic camera captures the violation, the relevant violation information needs to be transmitted through a dedicated channel to the traffic police management center. After aggregation, it is then handed over to the relevant traffic police department staff for verification. Once the violation is confirmed, the system will automatically query the corresponding vehicle owner's mobile phone number based on the license plate information. Only then will the violation details be sent to the vehicle owner via text message. After receiving the violation text message, the vehicle owner must settle all previous violations within one month before the annual vehicle inspection. Generally, if a vehicle owner suspects they have committed a violation, they can use 15 days as a benchmark. If no violation text message is received 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 management through online or terminal methods. Methods for querying traffic violations include website queries, phone queries, text message queries, mobile app queries, and offline terminal queries. Website query: You can search for "vehicle violation query" and input your vehicle information to check. Phone query: You can call the 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 license plate issuance location. For on-site violations, such as those directly caught by a traffic officer, they must be processed at the violation location. Text message query: Open your phone's text message interface; enter "WZ [license plate number] [license plate color]" in the message content; input 1062650001 as the recipient and click send. Mobile app query: Open the "Traffic Management 12123" app, select "violation query," and find any unprocessed violations to clear them. Offline terminal query: You can visit the local traffic management hall and use the self-service query machine to input your license plate number and check recent violation records.
Last time I accidentally ran a red light, I received the text message about a week later. It was raining that day and the road markings at the intersection were hard to see. By the time I noticed the red light, I had already crossed the line. The traffic police text included a link showing three snapshots: the front wheels crossing the line, the car in the middle of the road, and completely past the line. I recommend installing the 12123 App on your phone. After linking your vehicle, violation alerts pop up faster than text messages, and you can also handle and pay fines online. The review speed varies by location—urban areas usually receive notifications within 7 days, while remote areas might take 10 to 15 days. Before receiving the notice, don’t count on luck—those 6 points will definitely be deducted.
My friend received a notification just three days after running a red light on the national highway. The key factors are the online status of the intersection's surveillance equipment and the efficiency of the traffic police team's review process. With the recent equipment upgrades, traffic violations are now automatically uploaded to the cloud system, followed by manual screening to verify license plate clarity and the validity of the violation. In major cities, violations are typically logged into the system within 72 hours, but there might be delays in SMS notifications. If your vehicle is linked to the 12123 app, the process is much faster. Last year, my traffic violation first appeared as a red warning alert in the app.
