noun
red traffic ticket; serious violation ticket
Refers to a red-colored traffic citation issued for serious violations such as drunk driving or excessive speeding, often leading to a court hearing. Contrasts with 青切符 (blue ticket) for minor infractions.
See also: 青切符
スピード違反で赤切符を切られた。
I got a red ticket for speeding.
赤切符をもらうと、裁判所に出頭しなければならない。
If you receive a red ticket, you must appear in court.
noun
third-class ticket
Obsolete colloquial term for a third-class train ticket, which was often printed on red paper. No longer used in modern Japan.
昔は赤切符で三等車に乗ったものだ。
In the old days, people used to ride in third-class cars with a red ticket.
Compound of 赤 (red) and 切符 (ticket). The modern traffic sense derives from the red color of the citation form. The obsolete sense refers to red-colored third-class railway tickets.