Post by Tom Clark on Dec 17, 2011 15:18:37 GMT -5
ABATE of Illinois has been fighting to have legislation added making the movement through an unresponsive red light an option for motorcycle riders caught at intersections in which the sensors triggering the lights do not detect the presence of a motorcycle.
I am sure everyone has noticed the black "box" shapes which can be found in the road surface of intersections. Those "boxes" create an electromagnetic field and, theoretically, when a vehicle breaks that field, it triggers the light control module to cycle so that left and right turning vehicles get a green light and proceed safely through the intersection. The problem with the system, however, is that motorcycles oftentimes do not have enough mass to break the electronic field. Instead of triggering the "turn" cycle, the light continues its normal cycle leaving the motorcycle rider to make the decision to sit forever at the intersection, or to proceed through it against the red light.
In response to rider complaints about being ticketed for proceeding against a red light, ABATE urged lawmakers to amend the current vehicle code to allow for motorcycle riders to proceed through an intersection against the red light without being ticketed.
In the FOURTH Governor VETO OVERRIDE of 2011 (Yay, ABATE!), ABATE of Illinois was able to pass legislation making this LAW. GOING INTO EFFECT JANUARY 2012, you will be able to LEGALLY proceed with caution through a red light AFTER waiting 120 seconds (this was the compromise part). ABATE of IL recommends:
1. PRINT out and KEEP a copy of SB2528 and HB2860 on your BIKE
HB2860:www.ilga.gov/legislation/billstatus.asp?DocNum=2860&GAID=11&GA=97&DocTypeID=HB&LegID=60182&SessionID=84
SB2528: www.ilga.gov/legislation/billstatus.asp?DocNum=2528&GAID=11&GA=97&DocTypeID=SB&LegID=62549&SessionID=84
#2 Understand that local PD's oftentimes do not get updated laws until later in the year. (This is why you should print out the laws)You can help out your PD and local motorcycle riders by printing off SB2528 and HB2860 and dropping them off at the station. (I'm not a big fan of "law enforcement", so I think I'll skip #2) =) Respects
I am sure everyone has noticed the black "box" shapes which can be found in the road surface of intersections. Those "boxes" create an electromagnetic field and, theoretically, when a vehicle breaks that field, it triggers the light control module to cycle so that left and right turning vehicles get a green light and proceed safely through the intersection. The problem with the system, however, is that motorcycles oftentimes do not have enough mass to break the electronic field. Instead of triggering the "turn" cycle, the light continues its normal cycle leaving the motorcycle rider to make the decision to sit forever at the intersection, or to proceed through it against the red light.
In response to rider complaints about being ticketed for proceeding against a red light, ABATE urged lawmakers to amend the current vehicle code to allow for motorcycle riders to proceed through an intersection against the red light without being ticketed.
In the FOURTH Governor VETO OVERRIDE of 2011 (Yay, ABATE!), ABATE of Illinois was able to pass legislation making this LAW. GOING INTO EFFECT JANUARY 2012, you will be able to LEGALLY proceed with caution through a red light AFTER waiting 120 seconds (this was the compromise part). ABATE of IL recommends:
1. PRINT out and KEEP a copy of SB2528 and HB2860 on your BIKE
HB2860:www.ilga.gov/legislation/billstatus.asp?DocNum=2860&GAID=11&GA=97&DocTypeID=HB&LegID=60182&SessionID=84
SB2528: www.ilga.gov/legislation/billstatus.asp?DocNum=2528&GAID=11&GA=97&DocTypeID=SB&LegID=62549&SessionID=84
#2 Understand that local PD's oftentimes do not get updated laws until later in the year. (This is why you should print out the laws)You can help out your PD and local motorcycle riders by printing off SB2528 and HB2860 and dropping them off at the station. (I'm not a big fan of "law enforcement", so I think I'll skip #2) =) Respects