Motorcycle VS Stoplights

[EvilOne]

When I encounter a red-light that my bike will not trip. I treat it like a stop sign. I wait atleast 1 minute. Then go thru. I live in PA is this a problem?
I would deffinetly fight a ticket, but would also plan on being pulled over.

[APDSgt]

A redlight is a redlight. you would still get stopped, may get cited. the judge or magistrate may be leniant once you explain the circumstances.

[EvilOne]

I know what you mean, but the last 1 I went thru I waited 3 minutes! In my truck it changes in approx 30 sec. This was at 11:30 pm

[pkagel]

Or you could make a right turn, U-turn and another right turn and be legal.

[FNA209]

Yep- been there and had to do that. I honestly don't know what kinds of sensors they use anymore. Back when they had the medal plates, a lot of times a motorcycle wouldn't trip them because they weren't heavy enough.

Now, I'm guessing the sensor picks up and registers the metal of the vehicle or something. There's a lot of sensors around here that don't seem to register for motorcycles. I treat those like stop signs.

FYI- the reason I believe it's the mass of the metal is that if another rider pulls up next to me, it seems to trip the light. But I could be very wrong, it may sense something entirely different.

[pkagel]

Yep, and I've gone through them after a few minutes but I always feel guilty when I do it

[gotthblues]

someone said that if the traffic signal is not working properly, then some of their states have statutes that say treat it as a four way stop. but if you are on a bike, then it still works, so you cant go, right, i am ashamed to say that i just assumed the improper = 4 way stop was just common sense, and part of the "traffic rules" you learn in driver ed. i would stop vehicles for running the red light, but depending on their attitude (had to be fairly poor) i would just write a warning and ask them to be alittle safer and patient. but most of the turn lights in question from my area where just slow, never flashing, and people just got impatient. i felt that if i didnt stop them, then people would see me sitting there, not doing anything, and 1 get ****ed and call me lazy, 2- would just assume that they can do it too. but i feel for the bike riders, if i saw one sitting there, i would make a point to pull the unit in behind them and trip the sensor for them.

[e-man]

I just witnessed that same incident last night. I was checking businesses at an intersection and saw a crotch rocket pull up and wait for the light directly on the sensors, I think there actually called loops. After finding the business good I saw that the light cycled {no pun} 2 times for the other main road so I pulled in behind hm, He porbably thought I was going to follow him. Well within 15 seconds HIS light turned green and he turned left and I smiled and drove away going right. If it wasnt for ME he would have sat until the AM rush......


P.S. but to add, I probably would never cite someone , even a sportbiker for going through a red light if he sat there for 2 or 3 cycles.

[haus409]

I've seen it before and kept on driving, that is IF the driver of the MC is smart about it. As far as I'm concerned, if he/she stops for a good bit, long enough to make sure the lights not gonna turn, AND there is no other traffic around, go ahead. Not to speak for everyone though, so it is very possible you'll get a ticket, just not from me.

[EvilOne]

I found in the pa drivers manual "a non funtioning traffic signal should be treated as a stop sign" Thats good enough for me.