Motorcycles and stoplights.

[Chris142]

Often a motorcycle won't trip the light. How long is a reasonable time to wait before giving up and running the light? Would any of you write a ticket to a rider after sitting at a red several minutes while it lets all other traffic go?

Thoughts?

[playin in traffic]

Whether or not you get a ticket is up to the Officer. I am a motor and have ridden for years before getting on a department bike. I have been stuck at red lights too. If you can make a couple of legal turns and end up in the same place, that would be a much better option for you.


Have I done exactly what you are asking in the past? Yes. Probably every motorcycle rider has. Did I ever get caught? No. Could you talk your way out of the ticket? Depends on who stops you. Depends on the intersection.

[Chris142]

If you can make a couple of legal turns and end up in the same place, that would be a much better option for you.



True but that won't work when making a left turn that is only allowed on a green arrow. Would have to cross 2 lanes to make a right turn which I'm sure is illegal and much more dangerous than turning left on a red when it's safe.

[dw]

I always thought this covered such a situation:

21800 (d) (1) The driver of any vehicle approaching an intersection which has official traffic control signals that are inoperative shall stop at the intersection, and may proceed with caution when it is safe to do so. This subparagraph shall apply to traffic control signals that become inoperative because of battery failure.

In my book, if the light cycles once or twice and is not tripping for your direction, it is inoperative. Proceed with caution.

[TheForceCHP]

I always thought this covered such a situation:

21800 (d) (1) The driver of any vehicle approaching an intersection which has official traffic control signals that are inoperative shall stop at the intersection, and may proceed with caution when it is safe to do so. This subparagraph shall apply to traffic control signals that become inoperative because of battery failure.

In my book, if the light cycles once or twice and is not tripping for your direction, it is inoperative. Proceed with caution.

Nice find DW. I have run into this problem many a times and usually just make a right turn and turn around.

For all those who might try and use this section to run a light, remember that you don't know how long the officer may have been watching you and seen the light cycle.

[FDandH]

There is a small magnet you can buy that attaches in side a motorcycle fairing on the bottom of the motorcycle. The theory is the powerful magnet trips the closed loop senors at a traffic signal and gives your motorcycle the magnetic signature of a big truck. I put one on my personal motorcycle and it works.

http://www.signalsorcerer.com/

[kissyc]

I always thought this covered such a situation:

21800 (d) (1) The driver of any vehicle approaching an intersection which has official traffic control signals that are inoperative shall stop at the intersection, and may proceed with caution when it is safe to do so. This subparagraph shall apply to traffic control signals that become inoperative because of battery failure.

In my book, if the light cycles once or twice and is not tripping for your direction, it is inoperative. Proceed with caution.

I have a light near my house that will never turn green for left turns if it's late at night. But I don't want to run it because it's a camera light. So I always end up having to go a different way. :mad:

[playin in traffic]

True but that won't work when making a left turn that is only allowed on a green arrow. Would have to cross 2 lanes to make a right turn which I'm sure is illegal and much more dangerous than turning left on a red when it's safe.


Of course if Mr. Officer man is not around to see the red light violation, he would not be around to see the right turn you speak of which is not necessarily illegal. What if you go go straight then make a legal u-turn at the next opportunity. Or turn into the next business and turn out of the driveway. There are other options than running a red light.

Something to ponder: A red light ticket runs $350 or so. A few legal turns will set you back 30 seconds or so.

You can make plenty of examples of specific intersections. It comes down to a red light being a red light. You are the one responsible for the safe and lawful operation of your vehicle. Use your best judgement.

[bcpzx3]

I stopped at a red through 1 cycle, made sure there weren't any cars and proceeded through the red light. Or if you're riding with a few bikes and don't want everyone to run the red, have someone run over and slap the walk button.

[mcrabtree]

I have had this problem but not on a motorcycle. There is a light at the exit of street that never changes for my truck. I don't know if it the separation of my axles. I have a crew cab long bed F250. I sat at it one time for 30 minutes just to see if it would change for me and then ended up exiting my truck and pushing the crosswalk button to get the light to change. I have tried putting my truck in different positions in the lane stopping father back from the crosswalk and even closer to the cross walk. The only time I get lucky is when another vehicle pulls in behind me. What about a situation like this? The light works for all the other vehicles I own. This is the only light I have this problem with. Can I contact someone to have the light checked? I have owned the truck for a little over a year now and it has never worked correctly for me. It is very frustrating sitting there wondering if you are going to get a green light sometime is this century or not.

[bcjack]

I always thought this covered such a situation:

21800 (d) (1) The driver of any vehicle approaching an intersection which has official traffic control signals that are inoperative shall stop at the intersection, and may proceed with caution when it is safe to do so. This subparagraph shall apply to traffic control signals that become inoperative because of battery failure.
In my book, if the light cycles once or twice and is not tripping for your direction, it is inoperative. Proceed with caution.

:think::think::think:

[AyatollahGondola]

There is a small magnet you can buy that attaches in side a motorcycle fairing on the bottom of the motorcycle. The theory is the powerful magnet trips the closed loop senors at a traffic signal and gives your motorcycle the magnetic signature of a big truck. I put one on my personal motorcycle and it works.

http://www.signalsorcerer.com/

Excellent idea. So can we just leave one of these magnets at the light by our house and have it turned in our favor 24/7?

[slicktop575]

I have a light near my house that will never turn green for left turns if it's late at night. But I don't want to run it because it's a camera light. So I always end up having to go a different way. :mad:

But if your bike doesnt trip the green arrow then it might not trip the camera. :badgrin:

[bcjack]

But if your bike doesnt trip the green arrow then it might not trip the camera. :badgrin:
As Dirty Harry once said..."Do you feel lucky???":popcorn:

[CHIPY55]

I always thought this covered such a situation:

21800 (d) (1) The driver of any vehicle approaching an intersection which has official traffic control signals that are inoperative shall stop at the intersection, and may proceed with caution when it is safe to do so. This subparagraph shall apply to traffic control signals that become inoperative because of battery failure.

In my book, if the light cycles once or twice and is not tripping for your direction, it is inoperative. Proceed with caution.
Oh my goodness this is so annoying!!!! I hate how certain lights do this. O.K, now that I know this, I feel a little bit more comfortable. But on this certain intersection near my school, I am screwed because the intersection is photo-enforced :hitwall:. Once I had to wait 10 minutes for a car to pull behind me. If I go around the hills of Glendale to avoid this, it makes my trip home 10 minutes longer. But sometimes it's worth it.