Will running a red light captured by electronic police result in penalty points?
3 Answers
Running a red light captured by electronic police will result in penalty points. According to Article 2, Section 1, Clause 2 of the "Scoring Standards for Road Traffic Violations," driving a motor vehicle in violation of traffic signal regulations will result in a 6-point penalty. Running a red light refers to the act of a motor vehicle violating the prohibition of passage during the red light phase at a signal-controlled intersection or road section, crossing the stop line, and continuing to drive. 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 that motor vehicles passing through intersections must comply with traffic signals, signs, markings, or the directions of traffic police. Here are some tips to avoid running a red light: Check the arrow light first, then the circular light: Currently, there are two types of traffic lights: arrow traffic lights and circular traffic lights. When arrow lights are present, check the arrow light first and then the circular light to avoid running a red light. Note: When encountering a circular red light, you can turn right; when encountering an arrow signal light with a red right-turn arrow, you cannot turn right, otherwise it will be penalized as running a red light. Brake in time: When the red light turns on, do not let the front of the vehicle cross the stop line. If the front wheels accidentally cross and the rear wheels follow, the electronic camera will capture it, and it will be penalized as running a red light. If the front wheels have just crossed the stop line when the signal turns red, passage through the intersection is prohibited; wait for the green light before proceeding. Check the remaining seconds of the green light: When the green light is flashing, if there is a countdown, judge accordingly; if there is no countdown and the vehicle is close to the intersection with high speed, you may proceed to avoid running a red light due to untimely braking. If the speed is slow and the vehicle is far from the intersection, brake immediately to avoid running a red light. Article 38 of the "Regulations for the Implementation of the Road Traffic Safety Law of the People's Republic of China" states the following for motor vehicle and non-motor vehicle signal lights: When the green light is on, vehicles are permitted to pass, but turning vehicles must not hinder the passage of straight-moving vehicles or pedestrians. When the yellow light is on, vehicles that have already crossed the stop line may continue to pass. When the red light is on, vehicles are prohibited from passing. At intersections without non-motor vehicle or pedestrian crossing signals, non-motor vehicles and pedestrians must follow the motor vehicle signal lights. When the red light is on, right-turning vehicles may pass if they do not hinder the passage of other vehicles or pedestrians. Running a red light is not considered illegal under the following circumstances: Yielding to special vehicles: Yielding to ambulances, fire trucks, or other special vehicles. If captured by surveillance cameras while yielding, manual review will not record the act as running a red light. Even if recorded, you can apply for reconsideration at the traffic police department. Extreme weather: When visibility is so low that even electronic police cannot clearly see the traffic lights. The evidence photos may be blurry, and mistakenly running a red light will not result in penalties. Emergencies: Transporting a patient in critical condition to the hospital may involve running multiple red lights, quickly exhausting the 12-point limit. After delivering the patient, provide proof from the hospital or the person being assisted to the traffic police for verification. If confirmed, the violation records can be cleared. If possible, calling an ambulance is recommended to avoid accidents caused by running red lights. Traffic police direction: During peak hours, traffic police may temporarily direct traffic at important intersections. Drivers must follow the gestures of the traffic police.
You asked if running a red light caught by electronic police will deduct points? With over 20 years of driving experience, I’ve encountered this a few times. Once, I was in a hurry and didn’t brake in time when the light turned red—my license plate got captured by a high-definition camera. A few days later, I received a notification on the 12123 APP: a clear 6-point deduction and a 200-yuan fine. My points were already low that year, so I had to handle the fine, which also delayed my annual inspection. A heads-up: electronic police are highly accurate now, especially at intersections, automatically detecting red-light violations. Losing too many points means retaking the test is a hassle, and the safety risks are huge—regret won’t help if an accident happens. I recommend getting into the habit of slowing down early. Navigation apps can be set to give red-light alerts—use them to reduce accidental violations. Driving lawfully is the easiest way to stay worry-free.
As a new driver on the road, I'm particularly worried about getting caught by traffic cameras running red lights and getting penalty points. I've checked the traffic regulations – getting caught definitely means 6 penalty points and a 200 yuan fine. A friend of mine experienced this before; he didn't notice the flashing light at the intersection and got photographed, receiving a violation record on the app and having to go to the traffic police window to handle the penalty points procedure. Too many points can easily lead to retaking the test for new drivers, and the fines are no small amount. To avoid this, use mobile maps for real-time red light alerts, observe traffic light changes carefully, and don't rush. Safe driving is the fundamental principle, especially paying extra attention when visibility is poor at night. The rules are there to make the road safer for you and others – don't lose big for small gains. Take it seriously and check everything before each trip.
