I was pulled over this morning.

[T.J.]

I road the bike to work this morning and got pulled over by our local police department. I was setting at a stop light that sometimes takes two minutes in my truck before it changes. I set there on my bike and waited for a little bit and with no traffic in sight I made my left turn. I got on it a little bit and went about a half mile or so and the lights were on me. I pulled into a parking lot, turned the bike off, got off and took my helmet off and stood by the bike. The officer asked if I was late for work and I said no. He asked me why I went through the red light and if I saw him setting across the street in a parking lot. I told him I did not see him and that I had read where if a motorcycle was at an intersection and was stopped for a reasonable amount time they could continue through the light. He said ok and by the way the speed limit is only 35 here. I said how fast was I going and he said " I have no idea":confused24: I had to get up to 60 before I could catch you. I said I don't think I was going that fast and he said I am not saying you were. He asked for my license and just looked at it and handed it back and told me to have a nice day. I thanked him and went on my way.

 

That was all kind of strange but a good out come for me.

[Brake Pad]

remember, that's one brownie point

[Snaggletooth]

Had that converstion a couple of times last year. There are several highway intersection here where traffic is almost dead at certain times of day and night and the road sensors don't pickup on the bike at all.

 

The last time it was a State Trooper sitting directly cross from me on the other side of the 4 lane doing paperwork on the shoulder. We both knew the other was there.

 

I shut off the bike right in the middle of the lane, put down the kickstand and lit up a smoke. No traffic either way for two lights. Got off and opened the trunk and got a drink of water from my cooler. Still no traffic.

 

Fired the bike back up and checked traffic again and made the left turn on the red. Didn't take but about a half mile before he pulled me over. Asked for the paper work and why I turned left on the on red. Had to snicker. "You did see me sitting there right?" yep, he did. Like you I explained what I had understood as being acceptable in that situation. He just grinned and said that's fine. I asked him in his opinion if I would have been better off to turn right and go down the road a ways and make a U turn and go back. He just laughed and said "No, that would be illegal. Have a nice day."

 

I think they just want to make sure we are paying attention.

 

Me..... I just wanted to test the process.

Edited July 13, 2013 by Snaggletooth

[dacheedah]

Illinois passed that , check your state regs. Remember that when you are stopped attitude is everything.

[N3FOL]

Ahhhh. Interesting. I shall check our local laws here in Pa about that traffic signal light. So far, traffic lights change on me as expected. If not - Iist proceed with caution.

[Flyinfool]

I wonder if they pull you over and if you do not cite the law, they will write the ticket for running the red???

[kantornado]

Flyinfool I wonder if they pull you over and if you do not cite the law, they will write the ticket for running the red???

 

GOOD thought! I wonder myself??

[pmelah]

yep thats what they are looking for if you have a mc endorsement you should know the rules if you dont know then you dont have and thats 2 tickets they get to write

[Eck]

That is not my luck... I get photos of my vehicle in the mail with and amount due..............

 

No questions asked...........but if your guilty (as I was) than there is nothing you can do but drop your head and pay it..

[saddlebum]

In Ontario I do not know what the regs are in these situations. I searched the highway traffic act and found nothng. Spoke to members of local bike clubs, no clear answer was offered. I cross 2 sets of lights every day on my way home which do not respond. When I drive my truck the opposite light goes yellow as soon as I am within 10 feet of the intersection within 20 seconds my light is green. So using this criteria I stop wait 25 seconds and if the way is clear I go. I was stopped once and the officer asked me if I was aware that I went through a red light. I told him I was and that I do so most every night and explained why. After awhile we just chatted for a bit about how he always thought about getting a motorcycle and then parted company.

[Guest tx2sturgis]

In Texas, there is no law that allows a motorcycle to proceed if the sensor for the signal does not detect the bike.

 

But there IS a notation in the Texas Transportation code that makes it mandatory that if any light that is operated by a vehicle sensor, it MUST be capable of sensing the presence of a motorcycle.

 

I have almost hoped that I would be stopped for this one day, so that if a ticket is received, I can show the judge the relevant Texas codes.

 

And then maybe sue the stupid city for installing such crap.

 

 

 

 

 

http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/TN/htm/TN.544.htm#544.0075

 

 

(544.0075)

Edited July 13, 2013 by tx2sturgis

[XV1100SE]

The cop just wanted to get a better look at your 2nd Gen !

[dacheedah]

there are a couple types of sensors, most common here is a coil, inductive loop, in the road, you need to interrupt the field. You need to stop inside the box cut in the roadway and closer but inside one side or the other usually helps. When people stop and do not interrupt the loop, even in a car, it won't trigger the light.

 

If the intersection uses a camera or motion sensor it should detect you.

 

If it has a pre-empt on the light you can try flashing brights while approaching and you may get a green.

[IH Truck Guy]

In Wisconsin,thanks to ABATE,Act 466 says if you wait to make a left hand turn at a controlled intersection for 45 seconds,you may proceed with no oncoming traffic.

[Snaggletooth]

I have never run across anything that applies directly to the problem of sensor delays but this is what I have fallen back on for the times I have been pulled over for the left turn after not getting a light change after a conciderable delay at an intersection.

 

It states that in the case of traveling on a one way street (which in both my cases it was an off ramp, so in effect a one way street) onto another one way street. This is where I stretch my luck as every time I have done this it has been a four lane seperarted highway. In effect, with a lil stretch of the imagination I am turning left onto a one way street (across another one way street).

 

When stopped I have explained my actions and the reason for doing so regarding the light delay and how long I waited until there was NO traffic coming from any direction.

 

No reason the be arguementitive, just explain what I have read and understand to be acceptable in that situation.

 

So far the opinions of the LEO's involved have been in my favor. Not going to say it works with all of them and everywhere else but a reasonable, educated explaintion does hold water with most of them.

 

I had a rule of thumb for all the years I spent doing the OTR travels. I had plenty of chances to meet all sorts of LEO's for all sorts of reasons, most of them my own danged doing.

 

Thing was to leaving them laughing. Walked away from quite a few tickets over those years by just keeping stuff light, open and friendly.

 

Nebraska Codes.

 

10.14.220 Turns Restricted at Intersections With Automatic Signals.

 

Except as otherwise provided in this section, it shall be unlawful for the driver of any vehicle to turn such vehicle at any intersection where an automatic traffic signal is installed and actually functioning, except when such signal is displaying a green light.

 

Except where a traffic control device is in place prohibiting a turn, the operator of a vehicle facing a steady red signal may cautiously drive his vehicle into the intersection to make a right turn after stopping. Such operator shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians lawfully within an adjacent crosswalk and to other traffic lawfully using the intersection.

 

Except where a traffic control device is in place prohibiting a turn, the operator of a vehicle traveling on a one-way street facing a steady red signal may, after stopping, cautiously drive such vehicle into the intersection to make a left turn onto another one-way street on which all traffic is moving to said vehicle’s left. Such operator shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians lawfully within the adjacent crosswalk and to other traffic lawfully using the intersection.

 

And this stuff is pretty well dated.

 

(Ord. 18659 §7;

December 19, 2005: prior Ord. 17666 §3; May 1, 2000: Ord. 15634 §22; July 9, 1990: P.C.

§10.32.190: Ord. 12552 §1; April 9, 1979: Ord. 5699 §719; July 12, 1954).

[sandman]

Thanks TJ: I,m in middle of mitten and didnt know that.

[RandyR]

If a light isn't changing, and you're waiting at the intersection, then it's -malfunctioning-.

[naturbar]

If a light isn't changing, and you're waiting at the intersection, then it's -malfunctioning-.

 

 

i agree...if bikes are licensed and taxed to drive on our highways - then it should be the states job to insure all legal vehicles trip traffic lights. imo .