Will running a red light in another city result in penalty points?
2 Answers
Running a red light will always result in penalty points. According to Article 2, Section 1, Clause 2 of the 'Scoring Standards for Road Traffic Safety Violations,' driving a motor vehicle in violation of traffic signal regulations will result in a penalty of 6 points per offense. 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. Here are some tips to avoid running a red light: First, observe the arrow signal, then the circular signal: Currently, there are two types of traffic signals: arrow traffic lights and circular traffic lights. When arrow signals are present, drivers should first check the arrow signal and then the circular signal to avoid running a red light. Note: When encountering a circular red light, right turns are permitted; when encountering an arrow signal with a red right-turn arrow, right turns are prohibited. Violations will be penalized as running a red light. Brake promptly: When the red light turns on, ensure the front of the vehicle does not cross the stop line. If the front wheels accidentally cross, and the rear wheels follow, the electronic camera will capture the violation, resulting in a penalty for running a red light. If the front wheels have just crossed the stop line when the light turns red, passage through the intersection is prohibited. Wait for the green light before proceeding. Check the green light countdown before proceeding: When the green light flashes, if there is a countdown timer, use it to judge whether to proceed. If there is no timer and the vehicle is close to the intersection with high speed, it may proceed to avoid running a red light due to delayed braking. If the speed is low and the vehicle is far from the intersection, brake immediately to avoid running a red light. According to Article 44 of the 'Road Traffic Safety Law,' motor vehicles passing through intersections must comply with traffic signals, signs, markings, or the directions of traffic police. Article 38 of the 'Implementation Regulations of the Road Traffic Safety Law of the People's Republic of China' states the following for motor vehicle and non-motor vehicle signals: When the green light is on, vehicles are permitted to proceed, but turning vehicles must not obstruct 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 proceed. When the red light is on, vehicles are prohibited from proceeding. At intersections without non-motor vehicle or pedestrian signals, non-motor vehicles and pedestrians must follow the motor vehicle signal. When the red light is on, right-turning vehicles may proceed if they do not obstruct the passage of other vehicles or pedestrians. Running a red light is not considered a violation under the following circumstances: Yielding to emergency vehicles: Yielding to ambulances, fire trucks, or other emergency 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 of the violation may be unclear. In such cases, accidental running of a red light will not be penalized. Emergency situations: When rushing a critically ill patient to the hospital, multiple red lights may be run, and the 12-point penalty limit may be insufficient. After delivering the patient, citizens can provide hospital or patient documentation to the traffic police for verification. If confirmed, the violation records will be cleared. If possible, calling an ambulance is recommended to avoid accidents caused by running red lights.
I once encountered this situation when driving to another city for a trip. I didn't notice a red light by the roadside and drove past it. Later, I found out that the traffic police systems nationwide are interconnected, so running a red light in another city still results in a 6-point deduction, and a fine is unavoidable. The most troublesome part is having to return to the place where the violation occurred or the vehicle's registration location to handle it. Nowadays, some places allow online processing, but it depends on local policies. That time, I had to make a special trip and spent half a day queuing at the local vehicle management office. So, if you do run a red light in another city, don't assume you won't get caught. The safest thing to do is to promptly download the 12123 app to check for violation records.
