Modern Vespa

I live in a state that doesn't have a dead red law. What are you supposed to do then when you fail to trigger the traffic light to turn green? My husband, the motorcyclist says to just run it and we have done it twice together, but I don't feel safe doing that esp. because we live in a small town of 6500 with 2 traffic intersections with lights. We don't exactly melt into the woodwork with him on his motorcycle and me on my Vespa. I wanted to ask this at the MSF course I took in Sept., but forgot and they didn't mention it either.

Helmet cam. You'll have proof you did it in a safe manner. PO won't want to go to court against video evidence.

If it's that small of a town, I would ask the police. Call city hall. Here in Oregon, at least in my town, as long as we stop and confirm all is clear, we can go.

I think what I would do especially living in a small town is talk to your local police chief let him know the situation and ask what he might suggest.

Wish I could type faster^^^^^

Arizona is the same so I've been known to push the crosswalk button if available.

There is a thread somewhere here on MV of this being discussed. IIRC, the Scooterist would turn right on red; then would make a u-turn to get into the lane in the direction they wanted to go, which had the green light.

FWIW, I live rurally and have had that happen on occasion. Once all traffic is clear, I make my move. I do not think twice about it.

What's worse? If you are there on the Scoot and a a car pulls up behind you. The driver then becomes real irritated as you sit, since the light has not been triggered. Once that happens, you will not think twice to make a move.

Presumably the car behind will trigger the light. You might have to motion to the driver to move closer.

IL has a time limit that a motorcycle must sit at a clear/no traffic red light before proceeding, works well for me and my lightweight scoots

Found a few items of interest on MV to review or consider:

MV Wiki - Triggering Traffic Lights

Tripping Red Lights

Traffic Lights: How To?

Trippings Signal Lights

I keep my Boston Whaler at a gated storage lot.

You key in a code to get in, but the exit gate is automatically triggered to open when you pull up to the gate.

I found out the hard way that my GTS doesn't trigger the opening mechanism.

Had to wait 10 minutes for someone to show up so I could go out the entrance as they came in!

"Roach Hotel...they check in but they don't check out."

Great. Now I've got Hotel California swimming around my brain...

"You can check out any time you like,
But you can never leave!'"

I have two lights near my home that if I waited for them to turn, I'd eventually run out of fuel. I typically pass the light and make a legal U-turn in a safe place OR, I turn into a legal parking lot/drive and then merge back into traffic. I only run the light if I can clearly see there is nobody around. No harm, no foul.

I need to call my city hall as there are 2 lights on my commute that I don't trigger. Thankfully it's during higher traffic times so I don't have to wait too long for a car. Though funny enough I've had to actually get off my bike and tell the cars to pull up closer to me to trigger the light!

I have nothing else to add that hasn't been covered already. I have in cases like yours just blown the light like your husband but if you don't feel safe. Call the police chief and ask. Let city hall know so maybe they can rework the trigger at those intersections.

I don't think it is 'running' the red light if you sit for a reasonable time before passing through the intersection.

Generally I pull up, note the time. If the light doesn't change within 60 seconds, I carefully cross the intersection when there is a break in traffic. If a LEO stops me, I'll explain the process. If I get cited I'll go to court, swear that the light refused to change in a reasonable time, and that I took no risks in crossing. Then we'll see what the judge says.

Taking a lot more risks pulling a U-turn than just crossing the intersection.

I've been driving the same route to work for 5 years now. Every light worked perfectly for me until they rebuilt two intersections. When I go to work at 5AM there's few drivers to trip the lights. I make a complete stop and if it's clear, I go.
I'm looking forward to going to court with video evidence and see what happens. Gee, I need to get a life

Tell your state or county it's the 21st century. Wires buried in the roadway is out. Camera sensor from overhead is the way to go.

I often have this same problem. Red lights and exiting security gates at gated communities. Often my scooter or bike will not set off the sensor.

With red lights ((if turning left) I'll wait several minutes and if it doesn't change I'll take a right and then make a u-turn and accomplish the left-hand turn. No problem on taking a right as right-hand turns at stop lights are legal in Texas.

Security gates are a bigger problem. A couple of times I've had to sit for 5-10 minutes until a car has come along to trigger the gate to let me out.

There is a light two blocks from my office.

This is on the .8 mile commute back to my house.

It doesn't respond to any of my scooters.

So, if I see that there is no car waiting at the light, I will often go an extra two blocks around it.

Or if I am the only one there, I will put the scooter on the center stand, walk over to the button and push it to make it think I am a pedestrian trying to cross.

Or I just run it.

Bill

Do a u turn on the sensor a few times, bet you can make it open Have to hit it just right.

I've had luck letting the bike rest on the sidestand. If that doesn't work, I just run the light, albeit safely.

Make sure you do a little S turn over the sensor as you approach, helps at some lights.
Thank God Virginia passed a Red light law two years ago.

I follow the intent of the law, not the letter of the law. Wait set amount of time and 2 cycles of the light.
If I know the light doesn't work for me, I treat as a stop sign.