Triumphrat

Bonnebret

Heads up for my fellow riders in NC. Today's News & Observer reports the following:

* Motorcycle drivers no longer must wait in vain to get a green arrow in the left-turn lane.

Left-turn traffic signals sometimes get stuck on red because some motorcycles cannot trip the electromagnetic pavement loop sensors that detect vehicles waiting to turn. This change will give motorcyclists the chance to beat a ticket for running a left-turn light that doesn't work properly.

Left-on-red is legal only for a motorcycle driver who stops and waits at least three minutes at a red left-turn light that is controlled by one of those pavement loop sensors. And only if there are no pedestrians crossing the intersection, and no other vehicles that have the right of way.

"They really need to be careful because people coming [toward the intersection] see they have a green light -- so they're not going to be watching for that motorcycle," said Lt. Everett Clendenin, spokesman for the state Highway Patrol.

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2005 Bonneville Black: Tank Pads, Centerstand, Tachometer, Snorkel Removed, AI Removed, Gaiters

mag10

that is a great idea.

I have been ticketed before on the left turn light, even after waiting thru several complete cycles of the intersection lights. Tried fighting it to no avail.

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NewOldSkool

Wow, that pretty cool. I heard NY way trying for the same thing, but unknown if it was passed... most likely not.

markbvt

Vermont's had a law like that on the books for quite some time. Convenient, especially when I'm on my Honda dual-sport, which never seems to trigger the sensors.

--mark

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'11 Triumph Tiger 800 XC / '03 Honda XR650L / '01 Triumph Bonneville cafe

My ride reports: Missile silos, Labrador, twisties, and more

Bennington Triumph Bash, June 1-3, 2012

vanson1200r

I can only hope to see that in Kalifornia. Lots of rual areas with left turn arrows so I have to plan my routes or turn on red when it's safe and no CHIPies.

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vanson1200r:2007 Thruxton Red with white stripe. AI, Emgo's, 125's, Shim's, Polaris Bellmouth, K&N.

schnabba

people need to look into that law more carefully... I read the source that is posted (refer to the general statute section 20, and whatever the subsection is for motorcycles).... it reads something about "providing adequate defense" or some such nonsense...

to me, that sounded more like it would be used as an "out" in the event you get charged with it.... I'm not a traffic lawyer, but it did not look like the other sections about "allowed to pass on the right except when..." type sections.

sprint

3 minutes? So does the LEO have to start the clock when they observe a bike waiting in a turn lane?

UraniumC

I already do this. For it to be clear the light isn't going to change and clear enough for me to run the red light, I've already been sitting there some time. Long enough not only to be sure there's no traffic coming but also no LEOs lurking.

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JC
2006 Goodwood: Progressive Front Springs, Works Black Tracker Shocks, TORS, Tach and, of course, Union Jack License Plate Bolts.
Formerly: VTX 1800C
"God must love stupid people; He made a lot of them."

10860

Isnt there a thread about this in Biker Hang Out already? you could have just replied to it ...

http://www.triumphrat.net/biker-hang...law-in-nc.html

raproe

The Cleveland Plain Dealer has a question and answer column for motorists called "The Compass". On October 22 they ran the following:


FYI. Earlier this month, The Compass ran a question from Donna in Cleveland, a new scooter owner. She wanted to know how to trigger actuated traffic signals, which respond to metal content and don't always recognize her little scooter. The Compass advised her to align the scooter's wheels with metal detector loops embedded in cuts in the road, wave to nearby drivers to indicate they should pull closer to the loops, or try devices on the market, such as the Green Light Trigger.

If those options don't work, here's a suggestion from Sgt. Toby Smith of the State Highway Patrol: Label the light a loser and scoot on through. Ohio Revised Code 4511.132 (http://codes.ohio.gov) allows drivers to run a malfunctioning red light if they wait an appropriate amount of time and make sure no one else has the right of way, he said.

Even if the light works fine for cars, if it doesn't work for scooters, it's malfunctioning.

"That's the way I'd interpret it," Smith said. "And hopefully other law enforcement officers would see it that way, too.”

Good Luck

Rich

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