How many seconds after the red light turns on does the camera start capturing?
2 Answers
When the red light turns on, the electronic police camera system software is already in operation; when the signal light turns on, the camera system software shuts down 2 seconds in advance; when the yellow light turns on, the camera system software delays operation by 2 seconds. This method helps reduce the likelihood of the camera system mistakenly capturing vehicles running red lights. Under the following circumstances, you can apply to the traffic police to cancel the penalty for running a red light: If you run a red light to give way to emergency vehicles such as ambulances, fire trucks, patrol cars, road rescue vehicles, or special vehicles, and if the vehicle owner has a dashcam, the video can be retrieved as evidence to apply to the traffic management department for cancellation of the penalty. If you run a red light while following the instructions of a traffic officer, in many cases, if there is a traffic officer directing vehicle movement on-site, you should follow their instructions to proceed. If you are captured running a red light under such circumstances, you can apply for cancellation.
This is a quite practical question. From my understanding, traffic cameras do not have a fixed few-second waiting period after the red light turns on before they start taking photos. Most systems activate monitoring immediately when the red light is on. They typically use sensors or cameras to detect whether a vehicle enters the intersection after the red light, and once the vehicle crosses the stop line, it may trigger a photo. I know the rules vary significantly by location: systems in big cities may react faster, while small towns might have a brief delay, but I don’t recommend relying on any buffer time. As someone who drives frequently, I advise everyone to develop good habits, such as slowing down during a yellow light to judge whether to stop. The key to safe driving is prevention, not avoiding fines. Expanding on related topics, many navigation apps now can alert drivers to the location of intersection cameras, but don’t rely solely on technology—strengthen your own awareness. Traffic lights are there to reduce accidents, and following the rules can save lives and money. In short, focusing on stopping behavior is more practical than obsessing over the exact moment the camera takes a photo.
