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Message started by JLC on 12/10/17 at 13:04:07

Title: "Dead red light" question
Post by JLC on 12/10/17 at 13:04:07

The weather this year in Colorado is great for us motorcyclists... I went on a long ride yesterday on my Sportster, and today on the S40. Normally, the roads I take either have no traffic lights, or traffic lights with enough traffic to trigger them.

Not today. On two occasions, I was stopped at a red light that did not want to change. I know that only 16 states allow a motorcycle to go though a red light that does not change, with differences as to what a "dead red light" consists of - two or three cycles, or a certain amount of time, or..?

I cannot find the answer online for Colorado. Is it a state that allows motorcycles to go through a "dead red light", or not? Is there a site with information about which states allow this kind of thing, or not?

Title: Re: "Dead red light" question
Post by verslagen1 on 12/10/17 at 13:41:51

Of course not a question I would like to answer on an outastate ride, and there'll always be that ahole cop. But most are reasonable and if you've waited 2 cycles I'd go... and most likely I would go at 1 if there was no traffic to contend with.

Title: Re: "Dead red light" question
Post by Serowbot on 12/10/17 at 14:16:04

If they gave me a ticket for it, I'd go to court...
What are you supposed to do,.. go home?... :-?

Title: Re: "Dead red light" question
Post by badwolf on 12/10/17 at 15:20:03

Go to Harbor Freight and get a 150lb pick-up magnet. About $15, mount it under the bracket for the C. Converter, and the lights WILL trip. Over the last 2 years I only found one that did not trip for me. It does cut down on your ground clearance thou, only noticeable when rolling over logs.

Title: Re: "Dead red light" question
Post by Ed L. on 12/10/17 at 15:27:20

Roll the bike up to one of the sensor wires embedded in the road, turn the bike off and then fire it back up. The magnetic field generated by the starter should trigger the sensor most of the time. Or just say F*** it and run the light when the road is clear.

Title: Re: "Dead red light" question
Post by Ruttly on 12/10/17 at 17:38:41

I have a magnet from a hard drive mounted on the bottom of my frame , I just center it over that tar line and the light changes. What they call a rare earth magnet,buy them on eBay. I got 2 at work the size of silver dollars and you don't want to get your finger between then. Those pick up magnets are large & heavy ,these tiny magnets put out a larger stronger magnetic field. You can also buy a Greenlighter kit on eBay.

Title: Re: "Dead red light" question
Post by MMRanch on 12/10/17 at 18:16:07

I'm with ED ! : Or just say F*** it and run the light when the road is clear.

In Tn. its legal to "just run it" when clear , but we're supposed to wait one cycle

Title: Re: "Dead red light" question
Post by Ruttly on 12/10/17 at 18:44:16

It does cut down on your ground clearance thou, only noticeable when rolling over logs.[/quote]

OK ! ;D

Title: Re: "Dead red light" question
Post by JLC on 12/10/17 at 19:36:56

Thanks for all the comments and suggestions. I have a hard drive magnet which I stuck on the frame, just like Ruttly did. I still don't know if it's legal to go though a "dead red light" in Colorado, but I won't have to worry about that if the magnet works!

Title: Re: "Dead red light" question
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 12/11/17 at 03:50:37

Take a right, do a u turn, and ride

Title: Re: "Dead red light" question
Post by Dave on 12/11/17 at 04:58:19

Most of the lights I come up to will acknowledge my existence and change.

If the traffic is sparse and I can safely pull out after a significant wait - I will. (Since I am old and grey haired and not riding a sport bike or rat rod....my chances of explaining my action to the LEO are pretty good).

If there is heavy traffic - I will make a right turn on red and turn around at the next legal opportunity.

Another option arises when a car comes up behind you - you can pull ahead of the traffic loop.stop bar and try to get the car behind you to pull up onto the loop detector - sometimes you have to walk back and tell them what is going on and you need their help!

Title: Re: "Dead red light" question
Post by batman on 12/11/17 at 06:21:25

Some have added strong magnet under the bike ( magnets from an old microwave may be a good bet) or you could try hitting your kill switch and restarting the bike ,the magnetic field from the alternator /starter motor may be enough to trigger the light.

Title: Re: "Dead red light" question
Post by JLC on 12/11/17 at 08:17:40

I added a magnet yesterday, and if that does not work, hopefully the "kill switch trick" will. That being said, the first time I came across a "dead red light" in over a year of riding was yesterday, so it's not that big a problem!

Thanks again for all the suggestions.

Title: Re: "Dead red light" question
Post by LANCER on 12/11/17 at 15:25:36

Oklahoma has a sensible law that says if you need to make a left turn at a light, and the signal does not come on, then after a full cycle of the lights you may make your left turn when traffic is clear.

Title: Re: "Dead red light" question
Post by stewmills on 12/11/17 at 20:25:47

See here for states that allow running a dead red light. Scroll down toward the bottom.
https://www.bikebandit.com/blog/post/how-dead-red-laws-let-motorcycles-run-red-lights-legally

Title: Re: "Dead red light" question
Post by JLC on 12/11/17 at 20:44:53

Very interesting, thank you... and I got my answer: Colorado is not one of those states allowing going through a "dead red light"!

Title: Re: "Dead red light" question
Post by Steve H on 12/24/17 at 19:11:24

SC allows you to go on dead red when traffic is clear after waiting two minutes.