If I run a red light and get caught, how many days will it take to receive the notification?

[Victoria]

After running a red light, the text message notification for the violation is usually received within 3 to 7 days, and at the latest within about 13 days. However, some cities now offer "instant electronic police capture alerts," where you can receive a text message notification within 5-10 minutes of being caught. But this notification does not mean a violation has been confirmed; it is merely 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 text message notification. For traffic violations captured by surveillance cameras, vehicle owners generally do not receive the violation text message immediately. There is a delay, and the length of this delay can 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 handed over to the relevant traffic police department staff for verification. If the violation is confirmed, the system automatically retrieves the vehicle owner's phone number based on the license plate information and sends the violation details via text message to the owner. After receiving the violation text message, the vehicle owner must go to the traffic police department where the violation occurred 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 text message is received after 15 days, it is likely that no violation was recorded. Methods for checking traffic violations: Traffic violation checking refers to the process of querying motor vehicle violations of traffic management regulations through the internet or query terminals. Methods for checking vehicle violations include checking through vehicle violation websites, phone queries, text message queries, and mobile app queries. Website query: You can search for "vehicle violation query" and enter your vehicle information to check. Phone query: To check for violations, you can call local 114 (area code + 114) or 12580 for confirmation. Violations can only be handled at the location where the violation occurred or at the traffic police department where the vehicle's license plate was issued. For on-the-spot violations, such as those directly caught by a traffic officer, they must be handled at the location of the violation. Text message query: Open your phone's text message interface; enter "WZ" followed by your license plate number and color in the message content; then enter 1062650001 as the recipient and click send. Mobile app query: Open the Traffic Management 12123 app, select "violation query," and find any unhandled violations to clear them.

[WilliamRose]

As a veteran driver with over 20 years of experience, I must say the notification time is quite unpredictable—usually you'll receive a text or email within 7 to 15 days. I still remember when I ran a red light in the city last time and got caught on camera; it took a full 12 days for the notice to arrive. During that period, I kept refreshing the traffic management app daily to check the status. The reason for the delay is that after being captured by the camera, the data needs to be uploaded and reviewed, and processing speed depends on the local workload. During peak periods or holidays, it can extend to over 20 days. My advice is to install the official app for real-time monitoring to avoid missing the processing deadline, as fines can double otherwise. Safe driving is paramount—slow down in advance when the light turns red, don’t rush those few seconds, because safety is more important than time! Timely checking of notifications can also prevent license points from affecting your insurance.

[ArabellaLee]

When it comes to the notification time for running a red light, I've experienced it a few times, averaging around 10 days, but I've also seen friends receive notifications in as little as 5 days. The system process is roughly as follows: the camera captures the moment and generates evidence, the backend automatically recognizes the license plate followed by a manual review, which takes 1-3 days; then the letter is sent or the notification is pushed, plus a few more days for delivery. The overall time depends on the region and time period, for example, crowded areas in big cities might be faster, while remote rural areas could be slower. I recommend proactively checking the traffic bureau's website after a week instead of just waiting. When driving, it's important to develop the habit of braking at yellow lights and not taking risks. Handle traffic tickets promptly to avoid damaging your credit, which could affect future driving convenience.

[MacHector]

If you run a red light and get caught, it's understandable to be worried these days. Personally, I've noticed that notification times usually take around 7 days to reach your phone or mailbox, but it's not absolute; a friend mentioned cases where it arrived in as fast as 3 days, and others where it took up to 15 days. Factors affecting this include the processing center's workload and holiday delays. The key is to handle the ticket promptly once received—fines are typically a few hundred bucks, but they can double if delayed. My advice? Check the traffic management app a week after driving. Safe driving is the real win. When approaching a red light, slow down early—it keeps you safe and saves hassle. Don't let such minor issues disrupt your daily commute.