How to Handle Traffic Violations in Another City?
4 Answers
If a traffic violation in another city results in an on-the-spot penalty decision issued by traffic police, you must bring your ID card, driver's license, vehicle registration, and the penalty notice to the local traffic police department or station to handle the violation. This type of violation must be processed in the city where it occurred. If the violation was captured by an electronic surveillance device (e.g., traffic camera), you can check the violation record on the traffic management bureau's website and handle it remotely. Violations recorded by electronic surveillance may take a few days before you receive an SMS notification. Vehicle owners can also check on relevant platforms. To handle violations online, first complete real-name verification with the relevant authorities, then register an account on the online vehicle management platform. After binding your vehicle information, contact details, and identity information, you can process the violation online.
A few days ago, I was caught speeding during a self-drive trip out of town and was really anxious at the time. Later, I went directly to the local vehicle management office where the violation occurred. I queued up at the counter with my ID card, driver's license, and vehicle registration certificate to handle the matter, and it was all settled after paying the fine. If you can't go in person, some places allow a local friend to handle it on your behalf with a power of attorney and copies of both parties' documents. A reminder to everyone: deal with it early. At the scene, I saw someone who delayed so long that the late fee doubled. Nowadays, some highway violations can also be handled using self-service payment machines—just insert your card to deduct the payment, which is quite convenient. Just remember to get a receipt with an official seal for your records in case of future checks.
Last time I had a traffic violation in a neighboring province, I handled it through the 12123 Traffic Management APP. After logging in, I could clearly see my out-of-province record, with the penalty decision number and fine amount displayed. Online payment supports Alipay and UnionPay cards. The system automatically synchronized the data after payment. The whole process took only five minutes, much easier than driving back and forth. However, make sure to carefully check the photo evidence. If you have doubts, don't rush to accept the penalty. For example, once I found the license plate was blurred in the photo, and the violation was canceled after I appealed. Processing speeds vary by province, but records are usually cleared within three days.
As a long-distance driver, I have the most say in handling out-of-town traffic violations. Now that the system is connected nationwide, there's usually no need to make a special trip back to the violation location, as the 12123 online platform covers most cases. However, for on-the-spot tickets issued by traffic police during a stop, payment must be made within 15 days at the designated location, with late fees charged for overdue payments. Once, I was checked in Gansu for not wearing a rear seatbelt and had to pay in cash at a specified local bank. If you dispute the ticket, you must apply for reconsideration at the traffic authority that issued it.
