Not being able to trip traffic light sensor? Running Red?

Bumbobee

Bumbobee

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Does anyone know what the law is when your motorcycle can trip the traffic light sensor? Are you allowed to go if it's safe? I get this a lot, especially in the burbs, on advance light left hand turns...

What's the solution?
 
Make a right then a u-turn when safe to do so. Not legal to run the red.
 
Cha0s00100 said:
Make a right then a u-turn when safe to do so. Not legal to run the red.
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Running a red isn't the same thing as sitting and waiting for a reasonable amount of time for it to turn.

After this "reasonable amount of time" it is assumed the light isn't functioning properly and it is legal to proceed when safe to do so.

Now what is "reasonable" to a cop and to you might be different.
 
CrazyKell said:
Running a red isn't the same thing as sitting and waiting for a reasonable amount of time for it to turn.

After this "reasonable amount of time" it is assumed the light isn't functioning properly and it is legal to proceed when safe to do so.

Now what is "reasonable" to a cop and to you might be different.
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+1

i'd say certain douchy cops having a bad day might give you a ticket, but you'd have no problem getting it thrown out in court with the slightest proof that you waited a half decent amount of time.
 
All the cop will see is you running the red, they will pull you over, you will get a ticket, you will need to go to court. Personally I wont take the chance. Cops dont care, they get paid to go to court. If I dont see a car in sight and im 100% there are no cops then ill run it. Im still waiting for the city to get back to my to pass a by-law about this mess.
 
I wouldnt see it being an issue you couldnt talk yourself out of on the side of the road. Of course there will be dick cheese cops that will hit you with a ticket.

Personally I would "advance through the red light when safe" rather than turning right making a U turn and coming back... seems to me that the later would put you in more risk and would be much less safe.
 
matthew said:
since when is a u turn illegal?
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Depends on the circumstance:
143. No driver or operator of a vehicle upon a highway shall turn the vehicle so as to proceed in the opposite direction when,
(a) upon a curve where traffic approaching the vehicle from either direction cannot be seen by the driver of the vehicle within a distance of 150 metres;
(b) on a railway crossing or within 30 metres of a railway crossing;
(c) upon an approach to or near the crest of a grade where the vehicle cannot be seen by the driver of another vehicle approaching from either direction within 150 metres; or
(d) within 150 metres of a bridge, viaduct or tunnel where the driver’s view is obstructed within such distance. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.8, s. 143.
 
the27thelement said:
There is a term for this manouver(can`t remember what its called). But its illegal.
The u-turn it self is illegal anyway.
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U turns are NOT illegal, unless the specifically marked intersections, or in the circumstances specifically outlined in the HTA as kelly posted above.

Still, I'd just run it, and explain if caught like i said above, most cops would let it go after proper explanation, the few that give you a ticket would be easily won in court.


matthew said:
Kick stand down, press the cross walk button.
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This IS illegal. you can't get off your bike in traffic.
 
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just_luc said:
This IS illegal. you can't get off your bike in traffic.
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So is running the red. I'd think getting off your bike at a red light would be easier to explain considering you would be off your bike... at a red light. Running a red? Not always believable.
 
Nixel said:
So is running the red. I'd think getting off your bike at a red light would be easier to explain considering you would be off your bike... at a red light. Running a red? Not always believable.
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I'd challenge that.. running a red is illegal yes, but if the light is malfunctioning (the gray area is whether or not, not recognizing a bike is malfunctioning) the proper procedure is to treat it as a four way stop and proceed when safe.. I don't know of any situation where the proper procedure is to leave your vehicle in a live traffic lane..
 
just_luc said:
I'd challenge that.. running a red is illegal yes, but if the light is malfunctioning (the gray area is whether or not, not recognizing a bike is malfunctioning) the proper procedure is to treat it as a four way stop and proceed when safe.. I don't know of any situation where the proper procedure is to leave your vehicle in a live traffic lane..
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True, it's really a situation that you would have to deal with at the time. It's a very grey scenario. I'd prefer not to run the red because most times when I'd have to would be at night and I just wouldn't want to risk being blindsided in the event I don't see the car or they're ripping it down the street and make it in time to hit me.

Of course I can only think of 1 place I would do this, which is right outside my place at Eglinton and Winston Churchill. I've heard people speed down Winston Churchill at night, so I'd rather hit the cross walk. Of course I've just learned to avoid the light in question so I don't get myself into that situation.
 
also hitting the crosswalk button doesnt always work! I didnt realize that is illegal though, thanks for the heads up just luc.
 
just_luc said:
U turns are NOT illegal, unless the specifically marked intersections, or in the circumstances specifically outlined in the HTA as kelly posted above.

Still, I'd just run it, and explain if caught like i said above, most cops would let it go after proper explanation, the few that give you a ticket would be easily won in court.




This IS illegal. you can't get off your bike in traffic.
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I would much rather take my chances with a cop trying to ticket me for pressing the cross walk button than trying to justify running a red
 
At the suggestion of all the contributors to the previous threads on this topic (why yes, I do use the search box :-), I tried the technique of stopping my bike *on the black line* covering the sensor wire. This worked for me at all three intersections where I used to get stuck at the red...
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