One Mississippi, Two Mississippi….
May 15, 2008
Officer Francis Poncherello (aka “Ponch”) and Officer Jon Baker weren’t there today but I’m wondering how they would’ve voted on this one.
In December 2006 Senate Bill 111 was prefiled and it took 16 months to make it over to the House where it sped through our chamber (lame pun, huh?) and in only one quick month it’s now one step away from going to the Governor for approval/veto.
Do you think motorcycles should be allowed to “count to 10″ at red lights and then proceed with caution through the intersection? (Ok….the bill actually says they must come to a complete stop for 2 minutes, but you get the drift. You can read the main portion of the bill below)
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(5) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, if a driver of a motorcycle or moped, or a bicycle rider, approaches an intersection that is controlled by a traffic-control device, the driver may proceed through the intersection on a steady red light only if the driver or rider, as the case may be:
(a) comes to a full and complete stop at the intersection for one hundred and twenty seconds; and
(b) exercises due care as provided by law, otherwise treats the traffic control device as a stop sign, and determines it is safe to proceed.”
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What are your thoughts? (Note: Ralph or other ABATE members, I know your thoughts already. You guys spend more time in the State House than some of my colleagues!)
For information - the thought behind the bill is that our lights are triggered by weight and motorcylces don’t register and so they either sit there or break the law by going on through.
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4 Responses to “One Mississippi, Two Mississippi….”
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Nathan - the argument isn’t that they lack the weight, but rather the amount of metal sufficient to set off the magnetic loops that are set in the roadway at most traffic signals.
If you look at the squares in the roadway just before the white stop bar at intersections, that is where they road was cut, the detector loop put in, and epoxy poured over the cuts to seal them.
I think they’re working on the implementation of “figure 8″ detector loops that will be more sensitive to smaller metallic masses, such as motorcycles. These seem to do a better job of tripping lights.
In case you’re wondering … these are relatively new innovations. Before them, lights were programmed to rotate from green to red at set intervals. The problem this led to was that at night, lights were either red too long and left people waiting to the light to turn, or lights would turn red without any cross traffic needing the light.
Being in road construction, I kind of know these things … and I agree with the basic premise of the bill.
Interestingly enough, detector loops are what tripped Susan Smith up. The intersection she was at was equipped with loops, challenging her assertion that she was waiting a long period at the light when she was supposedly carjacked.
Caption: “Leon and Thompson enjoy themselves at last year’s House Haloween Party.”
I think it is a good idea, but most lights are on a timer except at night, so I think it should be only during the night, when lights are not scheduled to change at regular intervals. Otherwise, it could get out of control during the day. Coordinating the scheduling of the lights with whomever necessary is an entirely different situation.
I won’t say anything about this bill as you have stated I will be glad when I will not be stuck at a light that doesn’t detect me.
I will say I have the most informed Representaitve and thanks for working so hard to know what your voting on.
I am surprised at some of the bills that go through and sometimes surprised at the questions asked by some of the general assembly.