Will running a red light with a temporary license plate be captured?
3 Answers
It will be captured. According to the "Road Traffic Safety Law," drivers who violate traffic signals will be given a warning or fined between 20 and 200 yuan, along with a 6-point deduction. Temporary license plates are paper permits allowing vehicles to operate temporarily on roads. Traffic violation penalties are not related to whether the vehicle has a temporary or permanent license plate but are imposed based on the driver's illegal behavior. To determine a red-light violation, at least three pieces of photographic evidence are required: the vehicle has not left the stop line when the red light is on; the vehicle has passed the intersection when the red light is on; the vehicle has crossed the line and continued moving forward when the red light is on. 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: When motor vehicles pass through intersections, they must follow the instructions of traffic signals, traffic signs, traffic markings, or traffic police. Ways to avoid running a red light: When there are arrow signals, follow the arrow lights; otherwise, follow the circular lights; 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 just flashes, if you are close and moving fast, you should proceed, as stopping might be difficult, causing you to cross the stop line; if you are far away, moving slowly, or the intersection is congested, you should stop; When driving in the city, develop the habit of looking for traffic lights whenever you see a crosswalk or stop line at an intersection.
Last time I just got my new car with a temporary license plate, and I was wondering if running a red light would go unnoticed since the temporary plate is just a small piece of paper that could fly away with a gust of wind, making it hard to catch. My friend Xiao Li also tried something similar—he ran a red light downtown last month and initially thought he got away with it, but two weeks later, he received a ticket. Turns out, traffic cameras don’t discriminate between new or old plates; they’re specifically designed to catch violations. Even if the temporary plate is a bit blurry, the system can zoom in and recognize the plate info during processing. This made me realize that no matter what kind of plate you have, running a red light is a high-risk move—not only could you face fines and points, but hitting someone would be even worse. So now, I pay extra attention to traffic signals and would rather wait a few extra seconds to stay safe.
As a veteran driver with over a decade of experience, I once ran a red light using temporary license plates during a night drive, honestly thinking it wouldn't matter since the temporary plates were lightly printed and the scanning system might react slower. Later, a colleague's friend at the traffic bureau revealed that temporary plates have a significant chance of being caught, especially with modern high-definition cameras at intersections that capture violations accurately. After the violation data is uploaded, the ticket might arrive at your doorstep days later, with no difference in accountability compared to regular plates. Violation records could also affect future license applications, and developing bad habits increases accident risks. After all, the car is yours, but your life is more precious. I suggest playing by the rules for peace of mind.
