How many days will it take to receive a notification after running a red light?
2 Answers
After running a red light, the violation notification SMS is usually received 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 an SMS notification within 5-10 minutes of being captured. But the notification does not equate to a violation; it serves merely as a capture alert. The final determination of whether it constitutes a violation takes 3-7 days. If it is indeed a violation, 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 may vary. After an electronic camera captures a violation, the relevant violation information needs to 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 to the owner. After receiving the violation SMS, the vehicle owner must go to the traffic police department where the violation occurred to address it within one month before the vehicle's annual inspection. Generally, if a vehicle owner suspects a violation, they can use 15 days as a benchmark. If no violation SMS is received beyond 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 methods for vehicle violation queries: traffic branch terminal queries, vehicle violation website queries, phone queries, SMS queries, and mobile app queries. Website Query: You can search for "vehicle violation query" and enter your vehicle information to check. Phone Query: To inquire about violations, you can dial the local 114 (area code + 114) or 12580 for traffic violation confirmation. Violations can only be processed at the location where they occurred or where the vehicle's license plate was issued. For on-the-spot violations, such as those directly caught by traffic police, they must be handled at the violation location. SMS Query: Open your phone's SMS interface; in the message content, enter "WZ" followed by your license plate number and color; then, input 1062650001 as the recipient and send. Mobile App Query: Open the Traffic Management 12123 app, select "Violation Query," and find unresolved violations to address them.
I've been driving for over ten years and always pay attention to traffic rules, but occasionally friends ask about this. The time it takes to receive a notification after running a red light isn't fixed—it mainly depends on the camera system and traffic police processing speed. In big cities like Beijing or Shanghai, where there are many cameras and high automation, you usually get a text message or ticket email within 3 to 7 days. However, in smaller cities or rural areas, it might take 10 to 14 days due to slower processing. I recommend car owners link their phones to apps like "Traffic Management 12123" to get instant alerts. If two weeks pass without any notice, you might have gotten lucky, but it's best not to count on it. After all, running a red light carries high risks—fines are the least of your worries if an accident happens. Developing good habits is key: slow down and observe before a red light, as safe driving saves money and keeps you at ease.
