Will running a red light on a motorcycle be captured by electronic surveillance?
4 Answers
Running a red light will be captured by electronic surveillance because motorcycles are classified as motor vehicles. According to Article 2 of the "Scoring Standards for Road Traffic Violations," running a red light results in a 6-point deduction and a fine. Running a red light refers to the act where a motor vehicle violates traffic signal instructions by crossing the stop line and continuing to move when the red light is on and passage is prohibited. Determining a red-light violation requires at least three pieces of photographic evidence: the vehicle has not left the stop line when the red light is on; the vehicle has passed through the intersection when the red light is on; the vehicle has crossed the line and continues to move forward when the red light is on. Common scenarios of running a red light: When the red light is on, the front wheel touches the stop line. If the vehicle stops immediately, it is not considered running a red light; if it continues to move, it is counted as running a red light. After the red light is on, the vehicle completely crosses the stop line and stops on the pedestrian crossing. This is not considered running a red light but is classified as stopping beyond the line, which does not result in point deductions. However, if the vehicle moves noticeably on the pedestrian crossing or obstructs pedestrian traffic, it will be judged as running a red light. If the front wheel crosses the stop line and then reverses back behind the stop line when the red light is on, this is considered illegal reversing, which also incurs a fine. If this causes a rear-end collision, the driver will bear primary responsibility for the accident. After the red light is on, if the vehicle crosses both the stop line and the pedestrian crossing and reaches the opposite intersection, this is considered running a red light. Ways to avoid running a red light: When arrow signals are present, follow the arrow lights; otherwise, follow the circular light. When the red light is on, the front of the vehicle must not cross the stop line. When the yellow light is on, the front of the vehicle must not cross the stop line. When the green light starts flashing, if the vehicle is close and moving fast, it should proceed because braking might not stop it in time to avoid crossing the stop line. If the vehicle is far away, moving slowly, or the intersection is congested, it should stop. When driving in the city, develop the habit of looking for traffic lights whenever encountering a pedestrian crossing, stop line, or intersection.
Last time I rode my motorcycle past a newly installed intersection and didn't notice the traffic light, only to realize it turned red right after I crossed the line. About two weeks later, I received a text notification for the violation—6 points deducted and a 200-yuan fine. Nowadays, electronic surveillance has been upgraded significantly, and even motorcycle license plates can be clearly recognized, especially with high-definition cameras that capture clear images day and night. Moreover, the rules for triggering a violation vary at each intersection: some only require the front of the vehicle to cross the line, while others need to capture the entire passing process. I recommend checking the traffic lights in advance and not taking chances, as the traffic management system is now nationwide, and violation records are unavoidable. If you don’t receive a notification after being caught, it might be due to incorrect address registration or system delays—you can check on the 12123 platform.
That time I rode my motorcycle to give my friend a ride home quite late at night, and since the intersection was empty, I ran a red light. At the time, I thought the motorcycle's small size might make it invisible to the traffic cameras, but a month later, my friend told me his family had received my traffic violation notice. Turns out, traffic cameras capture motorcycles just as accurately as cars, especially at night when the reflective license plates stand out even more. The specific penalty points vary by location, but generally, it's a 6-point deduction and a fine starting from 200 yuan. Some older urban area cameras might not be as effective, but in big cities, the newly installed cameras can even detect riders not wearing helmets. The most troublesome part is dealing with violations in another city, which can be very time-consuming. That time I had a violation in another city, it took me two trips to the traffic police station to get it sorted out.
My twenty years of motorcycle riding experience tells everyone that the probability of being caught running a red light is very high. Last Friday during rush hour after work, I personally witnessed the electronic eye flash twice, precisely capturing the motorcycle in front running a red light. Nowadays, equipment updates rapidly, especially cameras with AI recognition that can automatically lock onto target vehicles. The key point is that motorcycle license plates are smaller, making them easier to be fully captured, unlike large trucks which might not be fully photographed. If there had been some obstruction nearby at that time, one might have escaped, but in most cases, it's unavoidable. The fine standard is treated as for motor vehicles, with a minimum of 200 yuan and also points deducted. Importantly, some county road intersections have outdated equipment, but don't bet on luck—key intersections in the city have mostly been upgraded to high-definition equipment.
