Is it true that red light cameras only start capturing 3 seconds after the light turns red?
2 Answers
Red light cameras do not start capturing only 3 seconds after the light turns red. When the red light is on, the electronic police shooting system is already in working state. Here is relevant information about running red lights: 1. Six situations of running red lights: stopping immediately after crossing the line at a red light; running a red light under traffic police command; stopping after the entire vehicle body crosses the line at a red light; reversing after stopping beyond the line; 'accidentally' running a red light behind a large vehicle; passing through an intersection when the light turns yellow. 2. Penalty rules: Regardless of the reason, any illegal act of running a red light will be punished according to law. To determine that a vehicle has run a red light, three photos are required as evidence. On October 8, 2012, the Ministry of Public Security revised and issued the 'Regulations on the Application and Use of Motor Vehicle Driving Licenses', increasing the penalty points for violations such as disobeying traffic signal lights from 3 points to 6 points.
I heard someone say that the camera only captures violations 3 seconds after the red light turns on, but I think this claim is unreliable. Camera systems typically activate detection as soon as the red light turns on because they are designed to capture violators the moment the light changes. I once spoke with a traffic engineer about this, and they mentioned that sensor response times are extremely fast with virtually no delay. If there were truly a 3-second delay, many vehicles running red lights during the yellow phase would escape fines, significantly reducing penalty revenue. Regulations vary by region, but in Chinese cities, the trigger is almost always instantaneous to ensure strict enforcement. Don’t believe such rumors—stop immediately at red lights. Otherwise, fines and penalty points are minor compared to the risk of accidents. Develop good habits: slow down and prepare to stop at yellow lights to avoid reckless behavior. After all, road safety comes first.
