Will I Get Penalized for Stopping Midway After Running a Red Light?
3 Answers
If you run halfway through a red light and stop in the middle of the road, and the rear wheels have already crossed the white line, it is considered running a red light, resulting in a 6-point penalty. Stopping midway after running halfway through a red light may be fined as running a red light and incur a 6-point penalty. To be classified as running a red light, the traffic camera must capture three photos: one showing the vehicle behind the stop line during the red light, one showing the vehicle crossing the line during the red light, and one showing the vehicle continuing to move after crossing the line. If you stop midway after running halfway through a red light, all three photos may have been captured, qualifying it as running a red light. Only the front wheels crossing the stop line does not count as running a red light. If both front and rear wheels cross the stop line but the vehicle does not move further, it is not considered running a red light but rather illegal parking, incurring a 2-point penalty. If you cross the line and then reverse back, you may receive a warning and a fine, so it is better to stop in the middle of the road rather than reversing. If the vehicle has just crossed the stop line during a red light but stops immediately, no penalty will be imposed. However, if there is noticeable movement after crossing the line, a penalty will apply. The three photos captured by traffic cameras for running a red light are: the vehicle crossing the stop line, followed by the vehicle moving to the middle of the intersection and reaching the opposite side of the intersection. Only when all three photos are captured will it be classified as running a red light, incurring a 6-point penalty under the new regulations. According to Article 26 of the Road Traffic Safety Law: Traffic signals consist of red, green, and yellow lights. A red light indicates prohibition of passage, a green light indicates permission to pass, and a yellow light serves as a warning. Article 44 states: Motor vehicles passing through intersections must follow traffic signals, signs, markings, or the directions of traffic police.
I've had a similar experience while driving. I remember once when I got distracted and overshot the stop line at a red light, so I braked hard and stopped in the middle of the intersection. Later, I specifically looked into it and found out that this situation doesn't count as running a red light. A complete red-light violation requires three photos: the front wheels crossing the line, the rear wheels crossing the line, and passing through the intersection. As long as you don't completely pass through the intersection, you won't lose 6 points, but you should be careful not to proceed further. However, a friend mentioned that stopping on a pedestrian crossing or zebra crossing might result in a fine for failing to yield to pedestrians, so it's best to confirm whether your stopping position obstructs traffic. My advice is not to rush when there are only two or three seconds left on the green light—safety should always come first.
From many traffic regulation cases I've seen, crossing the stop line at a red light but stopping in the middle of the intersection usually doesn't result in point deduction. It mainly depends on the electronic eye evidence collection - it needs to record your entire red-light running process to count. However, the stopping position is crucial. If you block the crosswalk or hinder other vehicles, traffic police might issue a 'obstructing traffic' ticket with a 200 yuan fine but no points deducted. Personally, I think this maneuver is quite risky - what if vehicles from the crossing lanes don't notice you? It's best to slow down and stop when the yellow light comes on, avoiding getting stuck in the middle of the road in a dilemma.
