How many days after running a red light can it be detected?
3 Answers
After running a red light, it usually takes 3 to 7 days to be detected, with the latest not exceeding 13 working days. However, some cities now offer "instant electronic police capture notifications," where you can receive an SMS notification within 5-10 minutes of being captured. But the notification does not equate to a violation; it serves only as a capture alert. The final determination of whether it is a violation still takes 3-7 days. If it is confirmed as a violation, a new SMS notification will be sent. For traffic violations captured by surveillance cameras, vehicle owners generally do not receive an immediate violation notification via SMS; there is a delay, and the duration may 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 consolidation, it is then handed over to the relevant staff of the traffic police department for verification. If confirmed as a violation, the system automatically queries 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 SMS. After receiving the violation SMS, the vehicle owner must go to the traffic police department at the location of the violation to handle the matter within one month before the vehicle's annual inspection. Generally, if a vehicle owner suspects they have committed a violation, they can use 15 days as a benchmark. If no violation SMS is received after 15 days, it is likely that no violation was recorded. Methods for traffic violation inquiries: Traffic violation inquiry refers to checking motor vehicle violations of traffic management through online platforms or query terminals. Methods for vehicle violation inquiries include website queries, phone inquiries, SMS inquiries, and mobile app inquiries. Website inquiry: You can search for "vehicle violation inquiry" and input the vehicle information to check. Phone inquiry: To inquire about violations, you can call the local 114 (area code + 114) or 12580 for traffic violation confirmation. Violations can only be processed at the location of the violation or the vehicle license plate issuance authority. For on-the-spot violations, such as those directly caught by traffic police, they must be handled at the location of the violation. SMS inquiry: Open the SMS interface on your phone; enter the violation license plate number in the message content; input 1062650001 as the recipient and click send. Mobile app inquiry: Open the "Traffic Management 12123" app, select "violation inquiry," and find the unprocessed violations to clear them.
Having driven for over a decade, my experience tells me that generally after running a red light is caught by cameras, the record can be checked on the traffic management APP or website within three days to a week. The processing speed varies by location—big cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen might be faster, wrapping up in three to five days; in smaller towns or remote suburbs, delays of up to ten days aren’t uncommon. The system backend needs to review to prevent false captures, and delays are more frequent during peak periods like National Day holidays. Never count on luck—stay focused while driving. Running a red light means fines and points, and accidents bring regret. Make it a habit to set phone reminders to check for violations regularly. Safe driving is the real peace of mind.
For daily commuters, red light violation records are usually available within 3-4 days, but don't expect instant results. The traffic system workflow is: cameras capture images first, then transmit them to data centers for manual verification before updating databases – this process typically takes 5-7 days. For out-of-province license plates or during data peak periods, it may extend to 10 days. We recommend checking through the official traffic management app by entering your license plate number for the most reliable information. Remember: slow down at yellow lights – don't risk convenience for temporary gain. Stay vigilant by observing traffic signal changes while driving.
