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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Dec 2015
    Posts
    272

    Default Is it Legal to Run Red Lights in Pennsylvania

    My question involves traffic law in the state of: PA

    So we had some new legislation recently passed which can be found here:
    http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/...r=1267&pn=1987

    Essentially, the law was enacted to allow motorcycle riders to go thru a red light when the weight of their bike fails to trigger an automated cycle change. However, the law does not prohibit cars from doing the same. Additionally, there is nothing in the law that defines how much time must pass before a motorist is able to go thru. What say all of you?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Oct 2014
    Posts
    8,238

    Default Re: Legal to Drive Thru Red Lights in Pa

    It doesn't quite give a driver the free pass you seem to suggest. The provision starts out “If a traffic-control signal is out of operation or is not functioning properly,....” Thus, a driver cited for running a red light will need to prove that the light was either out of operation or not functioning properly to beat the ticket. If the light was functioning properly and was set up to be a long red light then the driver should end up convicted of running the red light.

    That said, I think it’s poorly drafted and poorly thought out. But I’m not surprised. I once lived in Pennsylvania and thought its governmental and legal systems to be....antiquated, and that’s being rather kind.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Posts
    19,901

    Default Re: Legal to Drive Thru Red Lights in Pa

    What it says is you can pass the signal if it is malfunctioning. You'd better be darn sure as the driver passing a red signal that it is malfunctioning and just not a very long cycle.
    If that thing turns green for your direction ten seconds after you've driven through the red, you're in trouble.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Posts
    18,340

    Default Re: Legal to Drive Thru Red Lights in Pa

    I wonder:

    Officer: You just ran a red light.
    Driver: But, officer, I stopped, I waited, the light didn't detect my vehicle, so I treated it as a stop sign just like the law says. (Hands printout to officer.)
    Officer: Hmm, you're right, you're free to go. Have a nice day.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Posts
    19,901

    Default Re: Legal to Drive Thru Red Lights in Pa

    I had things go the other way. Officer pulled up behind me while I was stopped.

    OFFICER: What are you waiting for?
    ME: The light is red.
    OFFICER: You could turn right on red.
    ME: There's a sign that says no turn on red.
    OFFICER: Have you been drinking.
    ME: No sir.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Posts
    8,006

    Default Re: Legal to Drive Thru Red Lights in Pa

    Quote Quoting flyingron
    View Post
    I had things go the other way. Officer pulled up behind me while I was stopped.

    OFFICER: What are you waiting for?
    ME: The light is red.
    OFFICER: You could turn right on red.
    ME: There's a sign that says no turn on red.
    OFFICER: Have you been drinking.
    ME: No sir. Have you?
    How it should have gone ^^

  7. #7

    Default Re: Legal to Drive Thru Red Lights in Pa

    Indeed. And if the sign says no, then its supposed to be no.....

    Although it seems some cops like to make their own rules, like when I had one order my brother up to 35 in my neighborhood (25 speed limit)and through stops signs, we pretty much ran 10 stop signs at 35 and nary a word was spoken of it. And several other people have had the same experience.....and I can vouch from personal experience deliberately rolling stop signs in my neighborhood rarely if ever results in a traffic stop.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Dec 2015
    Posts
    272

    Default Re: Legal to Drive Thru Red Lights in Pa

    No, I don't think you need to prove the light is malfunctioning. The average driver is not in a position to assess the condition of a traffic control device at the time the decision needs to be made to drive through the red light. I just think this whole thing is a disaster. How long should one wait before deciding to go through the light? What does it matter if the light changes green 10 seconds after you go through it, if you've already been sitting there for 1 minute? How long is too long? 30 seconds? 60 seconds? Does time of day/night play into the decision making process? Sure it doesn't give drivers a free pass to blow red lights, but as written, I think it just opens a whole can of worms. Should be interesting.

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