Why does the violation SMS only show penalty points but no fine?
3 Answers
Violation SMS may not always specify the amount of the fine. Notification time limit: After a traffic violation, you will generally receive a violation SMS within 3-7 days. According to traffic regulations, vehicle violations can usually be queried online or received via SMS notification within 3-7 days, with a maximum delay of no more than 13 working days. On-site penalty: If you are caught on-site by traffic police and confirm by signing, the vehicle owner needs to go to the local traffic police station to handle the penalty within 15 days of the violation. If it exceeds 15 days without handling, a 3% late fee will be charged daily, but the late fee amount will not exceed double the original fine amount.
A few days ago, I was caught speeding by a camera and received a text message stating that points were deducted but no mention of a fine, which left me puzzled at the time. Later, upon checking the official app, I discovered that the fine notice needed to be handled separately, and the text message was just a simplified reminder to avoid overwhelming the reader with too much information. Actually, the system sends notifications in batches—after the points deduction is confirmed, the fine still requires traffic police to verify the amount to prevent errors. In some cities, for certain violations like not wearing a seatbelt, a first-time offense might only result in a warning with points deducted and no immediate fine, which is a more humane approach. This situation is quite common, so if you encounter it, don’t panic. Just wait a day or two for the detailed notice to arrive. Above all, safe driving comes first.
I guess the SMS notification mechanism is designed too simply, prioritizing only the display of penalty points to draw attention. For example, my neighbor received a speeding text that only mentioned the points deduction. He later found out that the fine details had to be checked through an app or website because the SMS had limited capacity and couldn't include all the details. Different local policies also play a role—in big cities like Beijing, minor violations might only result in warnings emphasizing education, while smaller cities handle penalties simultaneously. There are often delays in the backend system; penalty points are recorded first while fines are still queued up. It's best to wait a couple more days to be sure.
