Posted: 7/19/2004 1:13:45 AM EDT
| I'm on my Harley and pull into the left turn lane that's controlled by a left turn signal. The bike doesn't trip the sensor and after waiting through a couple of light cycles and making sure that there is no traffic coming I make my turn against the red. Would you pull me? Would you cite me after I offer the explanation? |
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I doubt the cop is going to see you sitting there through several cycles of green/red lights., so why tempt the "ticket gods". Wait for traffic to clear, switch to the straight through lane, turn around down the road. It's what I do on my bike (carbon fiber is hard for the sensors to pick up). Jay |
My dad had the same thing happen to him here in FL, cop gave him a ticket he took it to court and the Judge agreed with him based on equal protection under the law. |
But you shouldnt have to do that, you have just as much as a right to make that turn as a car does. |
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Tennessee adopted a law a while back that said as long as it's done safely, a motorcycle can run a red light due to that very fact about not tripping a sensor. As long as it's done correctly, you should be ok, just make sure if you do get pulled over that you explain in a calm manner and don't sound like a smart-ass. Maki 
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Another trick I heard from an old biker years ago was to put the kickstand down on the sensor loop - apparantly the coil can then detect the metal and trip the light. Of course, does one vehicle on the road constitute "traffic" - ie the presence of multiple vehicles and/or pedestrians? And as such, we get to the "red light in the middle of nowhere" scenario.  [threadjack] If you were to approach a four way stop / red traffic signal at o-dark-early, and you were positive that there was no traffic (other vehicles) in the area (360 vis w/o obstruction, full moon, no clouds) and no LEO, do you still stop? Or do you think that the stopsign is intended more as a device to be used in the presence of other vehicles & pedestrians? Just curious [/threadjack] |