Stoplights that don't turn
 

Has anyone ever been to a stoplight that just wont turn green? Twice I've been around the mall at night and this one light WILL NOT turn,I was sitting there for close to 10 minutes, no one else came from the same direction I was and the light just never turned, I ended up making a right and then a U turn to get across. It seems like a few of the lights there are like that, is there anyone to complain to?

Re: Stoplights that don't turn
 

Have you ever tried flashing your headlights at the light as you approach it? It is a fairly old school trick that can do the job sometimes.

Re: Stoplights that don't turn
 

That doesn't work, and is illegal to even try.

Re: Stoplights that don't turn
 

I have heard that if you are at a light that doesn't change, after you wait for a reasonable amount of time you can treat the light just as a stop sign and go through it if there is no traffic. I have done this numerous times.

CRAIG

Re: Stoplights that don't turn
 

How does flashing your lights help? I've never heard of that.

Re: Stoplights that don't turn
 

I eventually did that last night and it felt SO wrong, it was like 4am and I didn't feel like drviving a few blocks out of my way to make a uturn, but what if we ever got those stupid stoplight cams.....

Re: Stoplights that don't turn
 

Buy a motorcycle :)

Re: Stoplights that don't turn
 

When riding my motorcycle, stoplights never turn for me so once the traffic is clear I'll just go. If I ever got a ticket for that I'd take it to court and win without a doubt. When sitting at a stoplight for a few minutes with no opposing traffic, I'll just go. They can give me a ticket all they want, but honestly, how does that make me a threat to society? I'll fight that too and probably win.

Re: Stoplights that don't turn
 

Some people think the emergency vehicle strobe sensors on the lights will catch it and give you a green. It doesn't work, first off human reactions aren't quick enough to strobe a bulb, secondly, halogen lamps can't strobe, they have too much fade time. Maybe this worked way back in the day when the sensors were first put in place, but no anymore.

Re: Stoplights that don't turn
 

BS. Who is to determine what a "reasonable amount of time" is. They were thinking about passing a law for motorcycles a while ago. I am not sure if it passed or not. The cop that pulles you over most likely isn't going to see you waiting there for 10 minutes. They saw you run the red which is illegal. I would not make a habit of breaking the law. We will see what JDM has to say.

Re: Stoplights that don't turn
 

Doesn't work

Re: Stoplights that don't turn
 

Thats why you do it with no other traffic around. I don't want to be held responsible for wasting gas by just sitting there causing global warming. Think of the poor polar icecaps!! ;)

Re: Stoplights that don't turn
 

Well #1.
Flashing your lights to attempt a light change is a felony under the impersonation statute. "OPTICON" is a device that sends BOTH a strobe light, and an infared beam to stoplights up to 1 mile away. These are usually mounted behind the grill on unmarked, or squads with new LED light bars, or in the mid section of a larger, older light bar. You will see the white flood light mounted at the top of each signal light up when the OPTICON has been tripped.

#2
Red is Red. Not yielding to a semaphore is a statute violation. A Semaphore is the imaginary box formed by an intersection. Failure to follow directions on the signs that control and regulate this "box", such as lights, signs, or persons, is a fineable offense. Sounds dumb, but call dispatch non emergency line if you can, and inform them. I'd say if no one is looking.....


not my fault if you get a ticket though....

Re: Stoplights that don't turn
 

this is true, they were teaching it to us at the motorcycle driving course. it is because the sensors detect metal, not weight.

Re: Stoplights that don't turn
 

There are like 2 lights around the mall that do this, i have no idea how no one else hasn't complained about it, but it is so irritating. Maybe I should wait longer? I can't imagine that working though, the lights around me had cycled a few times each while the light I was at would change to let crosstraffic make left hand turns, but never green to let me go forward.

Re: Stoplights that don't turn
 

Theres a few in Woodbury to get onto 94 that suck. That's about it though.

Re: Stoplights that don't turn
 

Instead of whining about it on here you should pick up the phone and contact the city street department or the police department and let them know.

Re: Stoplights that don't turn
 

That happenes to me alot. I notice that some times I am not on top of the sensor on the road and it does not turn. So I move my car foward a little or reverse alittle and it usually work. I don't know if this is going to work for you but it wouldn't hurt to try. That flashing like trick does not work because it is not the strobe lights that trips the sensors. They have a device in their vechicle that trips the sensors. The correct way of doing things is like what DSM said call the city and complain. If you get caught running the light than that is a ticket. If you take it to court you might win but it is on your record so you could never use that excuse next time. Most people who drive that route probably avoid that light because they know how long it takes to turn and go a different route(joking).

Re: Stoplights that don't turn
 

I mean JDM not DSM. My fault.

Re: Stoplights that don't turn
 

Well I am not going to start an agrument but I have personally seen the headlight flashing trick work within the past few months so it is possible.

Re: Stoplights that don't turn
 

Theres a light in Cottage Grove to get out of the Target Parking Lot that after like 1am I dont think it ever changes Green again. I have sat there with 4 cars behind me for half an hour and it didnt turn green. Now after about 5 minutes of waiting I either turn around (not always possible) or just run it when there are no cars around. I know its illegal and it just feels wrong but what else can you do? Wait all night for some light to change? I did call in and they said ehh, whatever pretty much.

Re: Stoplights that don't turn
 

It's called a coincidence.

Re: Stoplights that don't turn
 

At some intersections I have seen more than one sensor(one for the 3M Opticom, and one for something else).I know stoplights use different control strategies for light and heavy traffic times, usually timed for heavy traffic times(day), and a pressure or proximity sensor for light traffic times(night).It is entirely possible the other sensor I have noticed is there to spot headlights at night, so the stop light "knows" traffic is waiting to cross.In fact, using a sensor to "see" headlights at night makes a shitload of sense(to me at least).Also, there are many different versions of the Opticom(not Opticon), and even custom made to order.So its possible there is a version that will look for visible light as well(for control purposes).When retrofitting a stoplight, it would cost alot less that way, than it would digging up the pavement to implant a pressure or proximity sensor.I've always heard the headlight thing was a myth though, who knows.

Re: Stoplights that don't turn
 

Well on the one lately my headlight is out on the left side, maybe that is the cause? Otherwise i have only had the problem a few months ago

Re: Stoplights that don't turn
 

BTW If you're feeling lucky, I thought up a way to hack the Opticoms, and its pretty easy.It will even work on the new encoded ones.I'm sure it would be a felony though.

Re: Stoplights that don't turn
 

I don't know if anyone has heard/tryed this but if I sit for a while I back up and then move forward. I have no idea if stoplights have weight triggers or what but it works when I do it, or its just coincidence.

Theres also times when I'm driving @ 4:00am and I might slightly speed but I stop for stop signs/lights even though theres no one around. It just seems to perfect to get away w/things, a little to perfect...

Re: Stoplights that don't turn
 

Yeah i tried the backup and going forward thing, even changed to the other lane that went straight, if im ever by that light again I'll wait for another car to come or something.

Re: Stoplights that don't turn
 

Is it by mall of america or where? If it is tell me which light your talking about.

Re: Stoplights that don't turn
 

Right by the mall, killebrew(spelling) and old shokopee, stopping while going west on killebrew.

Re: Stoplights that don't turn
 

Motorcycles CAN go through an intersection on a red light. I know this as my brother was once told by a cop who noticed him sitting at a light on his YSR that it was ok if there was no cars and some other stipulations I can't remember, and I also remember reading many news articles on motorcycle sites that Minnesota and Tennesee are the only states to have this law for motorcycles.

I know one of the reasons they allow motorcycles this privelage is that you are a sitting duck if you are sitting in a left turn lane that won't give you a green. You can get tagged at night from either direction by non-observant driver.

Cars do not have this privelage.

**EDIT**

Found what I was looking for.

Sec. 42. Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 169.06, is
amended by adding a subdivision to read:
Subd. 9. [AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE RELATING TO UNCHANGING
TRAFFIC CONTROL SIGNAL.] (a) A person operating a motorcycle who
violates subdivision 4 by entering or crossing an intersection
controlled by a traffic-control signal against a red light has
an affirmative defense to that charge if the person establishes
all of the following conditions:
(1) the motorcycle has been brought to a complete stop;
(2) the traffic-control signal continues to show a red
light for an unreasonable time;
(3) the traffic-control signal is apparently malfunctioning
or, if programmed or engineered to change to a green light only
after detecting the approach of a motor vehicle, the signal has
apparently failed to detect the arrival of the motorcycle; and
(4) no motor vehicle or person is approaching on the street
or highway to be crossed or entered or is so far away from the
intersection that it does not constitute an immediate hazard.
(b) The affirmative defense in this subdivision applies
only to a violation for entering or crossing an intersection
controlled by a traffic-control signal against a red light and
does not provide a defense to any other civil or criminal action.

Jim

Re: Stoplights that don't turn
 

I herd there was a law passed this past summer about this problem with motorcycles, and being able to slip through the light under certain conditions, but making a habit of it wouldn't be worth it, cause even if you could win in court, doesn't you couldn't get pulled over again and ticketed for it...

Re: Stoplights that don't turn
 

I personally just sit and wait for them.