The red light challan fine is one of the most common e-challans in Punjab — because nobody has to stop you for it. AI-powered Safe City cameras watch traffic signals across Lahore and other major cities, and a signal violation is detected, photographed, and billed to your number plate automatically. In 2026, jumping a red light in Punjab means a Rs 5,000 fine, possible penalty points on your licence, and — if your violation causes an accident — an FIR and jail term. This guide covers the exact fine, how camera detection works, what points you get, what happens if a red-light violation causes a crash, and how to pay or dispute the challan.
Quick Answer
In Punjab, Pakistan, the red light challan fine for jumping a red traffic signal is Rs 5,000, per the published Punjab fine schedule. Violations are detected automatically by AI/ANPR Safe City cameras — no officer needs to stop you. Under Punjab’s 2026 penalty-points law, a signal violation also adds 3 penalty points to your licence, and more than 20 points in a year (21 or more) brings a mandatory 6-month licence disqualification. If a red-light violation causes an accident, an FIR can be registered, with imprisonment of up to 3 months reported for accident cases.
Red Light Challan Fine: Punjab vs Karachi/Sindh
The fine for running a red light differs by jurisdiction, because enforcement sits with different bodies:
| Jurisdiction | Red light / signal jumping fine | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Punjab (PSCA / Safe City e-challan) | Rs 5,000 (“Running Red Light”, published Feb 2026 list) | Detected automatically by cameras; carries 3 penalty points under §116-A |
| Karachi / Sindh (TRACS / traffic police) | Rs 10,000 for cars, Rs 5,000 for motorcycles (Sindh schedule effective 1 October 2025) | Camera-based TRACS e-challan enforcement rolled out across Karachi from late 2025, alongside warden enforcement; demerit points also apply |
| Islamabad (ITP) | Rs 2,000 per ITP’s revised fine schedule as reported | Camera-assisted enforcement at major intersections |
The Rs 5,000 figure is the published Punjab schedule amount for “Running Red Light” (echallanportal.pk, Feb 2026), and it is the amount the Traffic Police list applies; note the Punjab Code’s Twelfth Schedule text prints Rs 3,000 for a car, so where sources differ, the amount printed on your challan is what you owe.
Why signal jumping costs more than most fines
At Rs 5,000, the red light challan fine sits at the top end of Punjab’s minor-violation band — the same as overspeeding and driving without a license. The reason is simple: red-light jumping is one of the leading causes of urban intersection collisions. The fine is set to sting, and the 2026 points system adds a longer tail: repeat signal violators risk their licence, not just their wallet.
How Red Light Violations Are Detected: AI/ANPR Cameras
In Punjab’s major cities, you will rarely be pulled over for a red-light violation. Here is how the automated system works:
- Camera surveillance: Punjab Safe City Authority (PSCA) cameras monitor major intersections in Lahore and other cities. Many are AI-assisted and paired with ANPR (automatic number plate recognition).
- Automatic violation capture: When a vehicle crosses the stop line after the signal turns red, the camera records the event — typically a photo or short clip showing the red signal and the vehicle’s number plate.
- E-challan generation: The plate is matched to the vehicle’s registration record, and an e-challan is generated automatically in the central database.
- SMS notification: An SMS is sent to the mobile number registered against the vehicle, with the challan number, offence (“Running Red Light”), fine amount, and a 17-digit PSID for payment.
What this means for you: there is no argument at the roadside, no negotiation, and no “the light was yellow.” The camera’s timestamp decides. If the image is wrong — cloned plate, misread digits — that is a dispute case, not a roadside discussion (see the dispute section below).
Do cameras catch red-light violations at night?
Yes. The Safe City camera network operates around the clock, and enforcement does not pause after dark. Night-time red-light jumping is a common e-challan trigger precisely because drivers assume no one is watching.
Penalty Points for a Red Light Challan (Punjab’s §116-A System)
In 2026, a red-light challan in Punjab is not just a fine. The Provincial Motor Vehicles (Second Amendment) Act 2026 (published in the Punjab Gazette on 7 May 2026) added §116-A — a penalty-points system — to the Provincial Motor Vehicles Ordinance 1965.
How it works:
- Each offence adds points to your driving licence, on top of the fine. A signal violation (electronic or manual) carries 3 points under the Twelfth Schedule.
- More than 20 points within one year (21 or more) → mandatory disqualification (licence suspension) for 6 months, extendable by a further 6 months.
- Appeal: you can appeal a disqualification to the prescribed authority within 30 days of receiving the order (Section 16(3)); that authority’s decision is final.
- No online points balance: there is currently no official online page to check your points balance — you find out through your challan record.
Practical math: even though signal jumping (3 points) carries fewer points than overspeeding (4 points), a driver who habitually jumps red lights on the daily commute can cross the disqualification threshold quickly. The fine punishes the moment; the points punish the habit.
For the full schedule of offences and points, see our Punjab penalty-points article (internal link).
What Happens If a Red Light Violation Causes an Accident
A red-light challan is a traffic fine. A red-light violation that causes an accident can become a criminal case:
- FIR registration: per dlimsonline.pk’s reporting, red-light violations that cause accidents can attract an FIR (First Information Report), taking the matter out of traffic enforcement and into criminal proceedings.
- Jail-term provisions: imprisonment of up to 3 months has been reported for red-light violations causing accidents, under the 2025–26 jail-term provisions in Punjab.
- Civil liability: you may also face damage claims from injured parties, and a deliberate violation can complicate any motor insurance claim.
This is the part of the red light challan fine conversation people underestimate: the Rs 5,000 is the best case. If someone is hurt because you jumped a signal, the fine is the least of your problems.
How to Pay a Red Light E-Challan (PSID)
Red-light e-challans are paid the same way as any Punjab e-challan — through the 17-digit PSID printed on the challan:
- Note your PSID from the challan SMS or the e-challan portal printout.
- Pay online: enter the PSID in your bank’s mobile/internet banking app (HBL, Meezan, BOP, etc. — the “Bill Payment / 1Bill” option) or a digital wallet like JazzCash or Easypaisa through the e-challan/PSID option.
- Pay over the counter: present the PSID at designated bank branches.
- Confirm: keep the payment receipt/SMS. Challans sometimes take time to clear from the portal — check back before assuming it is settled.
Pay before the due date printed on the challan; ignoring it can add late penalties. For a full walkthrough, see our Payment Hub guide, and the Troubleshooting page if your PSID does not work or the challan still shows as unpaid after payment.
Disputing a Wrong Red Light Challan
Cameras make mistakes — cloned plates, misread digits, or a photo that does not actually show a red-light violation. If your challan is wrong:
- Check the photo evidence. Punjab’s e-challan record should include the camera image. Compare the plate, vehicle, and signal state against your own records (dashcam, GPS history).
- Gather your evidence: dashcam footage, photos of the location and signage, proof of where you were.
- Request a review: the working route for Punjab camera challans is a review request to PSCA (Punjab Safe City Authority), the body that issues camera-generated e-challans; a camera e-ticket can be contested within 15 days of issue under the Ordinance.
- Wrong-plate/cloned-plate cases: our Troubleshooting guide covers the cloned-plate dispute process in detail — file before the due date so the ticket is under review rather than overdue.
For the complete cancellation process, see our cancel-challan guide and the photo-evidence article on how camera evidence works.
Red Light Challan Fine vs Other Signal & Behaviour Fines (Punjab)
For context, here is how signal jumping compares to other common Punjab fines from the same published schedule:
| Offence (Punjab) | Reported fine |
|---|---|
| Running Red Light | Rs 5,000 |
| Overspeeding (car) | Rs 5,000 |
| Driving without license | Rs 5,000 |
| Wrong-way driving | Rs 5,000 |
| Helmet violation (motorcycle) | Rs 2,000 |
Signal jumping is priced at the same level as overspeeding — both are behaviour fines meant to change how people drive, not just tax them.
Practical Tips: Never Pay This Fine Again
- Stop on amber if you can do so safely. The camera triggers on red, but the margin for error at high-speed intersections is seconds — braking late still gets photographed.
- Watch the countdown timers where installed; they are there to stop guesswork.
- Do not follow the car ahead through the signal. The camera photographs every plate that crosses on red — “everyone was doing it” is not a defence.
- Check your e-challans monthly (city e-challan portal) so one missed SMS does not become two.
- If you drive a company or family car, make sure the registered mobile number is current — otherwise the SMS goes to the previous owner and the challan sits unpaid.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: What is the fine for jumping a red light in Punjab?
Rs 5,000, per the published Punjab fine schedule (“Running Red Light”, Feb 2026). It is detected automatically by Safe City cameras.
Q2: Do cameras catch red-light violations automatically?
Yes. In Punjab’s major cities, AI/ANPR Safe City cameras photograph vehicles crossing on red, the plate is matched to the registration record, and an e-challan is generated with an SMS to the registered mobile number — no roadside stop needed.
Q3: What happens if a red-light violation causes an accident?
It can become a criminal case: an FIR can be registered, and jail terms of up to 3 months have been reported for accident cases. Insurance claims can also become harder after a deliberate violation.
Q4: Do I get penalty points for a red-light challan in Punjab?
Yes. Signal violations fall under Punjab’s 2026 penalty-points system (§116-A): a signal violation carries 3 points on top of the fine. More than 20 points in a year (21 or more) means a mandatory 6-month licence disqualification.
Q5: How do I dispute a wrong red-light challan?
Check the camera photo evidence first. If the plate is cloned or misread, gather evidence (dashcam, GPS, photos) and request a review from PSCA — and file within the contest window (15 days for camera e-tickets) or before the due date printed on the challan.
Q6: How do I pay a red-light e-challan?
Through the 17-digit PSID on the challan: bank mobile/internet banking (1Bill option), JazzCash/Easypaisa, or over the counter at designated bank branches — before the due date.
Q7: Is the red light fine the same in Karachi?
No. Under Sindh’s schedule (effective 1 October 2025), jumping a red light costs Rs 10,000 for cars and Rs 5,000 for motorcycles in Karachi — more than Punjab’s Rs 5,000. The amount on your ticket is what you owe.
Q8: Does a red light challan affect my driving licence record?
Yes — in Punjab, e-challans attach to the vehicle’s record and offences feed the penalty-points system against the licence holder. Ignoring a red-light challan can also block vehicle-related transactions; see our guide on what happens if you don’t pay an e-challan.
Related on checkechallan.pk/
- Fines 2026 hub — the full Punjab fine + penalty-points schedule
- Overspeeding challan fine Pakistan — Rs 5,000 + points: the other big camera-issued fine
- Helmet challan fine Pakistan — motorcycle enforcement, fines, and cameras
- What happens if you don’t pay an e-challan — late penalties, blocks, and how they clear
- Punjab penalty-points article — §116-A explained: points per offence, disqualification, appeals