motorcycle won't trigger traffic light

[forgiven]

I didn't see no stinking light. Ran a bunch, still haven't been caught.

[qbi2001]

+1 for wilit's response. I've ridden for years and used to manage a local motorcycle shop. We would tell the riders to hit the starter and it usually is enough to set the light. I've done it many times with success. However sometimes its a stubborn light, so proceed with caution.

[ke6guj]

not all of us have electric starters

Sometimes moving the center stand up and down would help trip the sensor.

[berman1969]

I didn't see no stinking light. Ran a bunch, still haven't been caught.

+1 been doin it for years .

[ojisan]

The crotch rockets with alloy engines, frames and wheels don't have the steel mass to trip the magnetic pickups. Dual sports are also high up with mostly alloy wheels.
Stop, then put your side stand down so it's foot is right on the wire.
Hopefully you have a bike where this is easy to do without getting off the bike.
I sometimes "smack" the wire with the stand down by leaning the bike side to side a couple times.
Works well and you don't have to bolt a heavy (yeeech!) magnet to your bike.
Otherwise, look ahead, look right, look left, look behind you and go!

[trautert]

Google search Green Frog. It is a big and very powerful magnet as mentioned above, with a super sticky backing that holds it to the under side of the engine casing. Works

[Blue]

I run a red light 2-3 times a week. Sometimes I sit there for 3-5 minutes if the traffic is rough. I've talked/argued it out with a couple of cops and gotten away with it so far.

[tyrist]

It's a known issue and no I won't write the ticket if that is what happened.

[Scratch705]

as others have said, mount a real powerful magnet.

just not powerful enough to draw nails/screws towards your bike though...

[BillCA]

I've had this happen to me too... on a full dress Honda Gold Wing. The fun part was that it was about 2am just off a freeway and I could see a CHP unit sitting in a USA gas station across the street.

After two light cycless where the left-turn didn't work, I backed up and rode forward again. No joy. The kickstand and re-start methods didn't work either. After about 5 cycles, I waited for a clear intersection, turned on the flashers, rode through the red then turned off the flashers.

And got pulled over. Fun conversation with the CHP. I asked him if he'd been paying attention, he said yes. He'd seen me back up and wait several cycles. So I asked him, if I had pulled out of the left turn lane and proceeded straight ahead... yes, I'd have gotten a ticket for that too. "So what should I do?" His answer - wait until it turns green, here's your ticket, sign here, press hard, four copies.

I notified the city of the defect. The day before my court date, it still wasn't fixed. In court, the judge listened to the CHP officer say that he would have ticketed me if I had diverted straight ahead out of the left turn lane and that I should have waited for it to turn green.
Judge: "How long should he have to wait for that green light, officer?"
CHP: "As long as it takes."
Judge: "And you were watching him the whole time?"
CHP: "Yes, your honor."
Judge: "Did you report the signal malfunction to the city?"
CHP: "No sir. That's city jurisdiction, not mine."
Judge: "Why did you not take any action? That is, why didn't you assist him through the interection safely or help trip the signal?"
CHP: "I'm neither legally required or obligated to do so."
Judge: "In other words, you were either too lazy or wanted to write the citation, is that right?"
CHP: "No sir."
Judge: "We'll dismiss this one in the interests of justice."

[Captain Evilstomper]

Judge: "How long should he have to wait for that green light, officer?"
CHP: "As long as it takes."
Judge: "And you were watching him the whole time?"
CHP: "Yes, your honor."
Judge: "Did you report the signal malfunction to the city?"
CHP: "No sir. That's city jurisdiction, not mine."
Judge: "Why did you not take any action? That is, why didn't you assist him through the interection safely or help trip the signal?"
CHP: "I'm neither legally required or obligated to do so."
Judge: "In other words, you were either too lazy or wanted to write the citation, is that right?"
CHP: "No sir."
Judge: "We'll dismiss this one in the interests of justice."

that is freaking AWESOME1!!!

[mtsul]

++++1000 for BILLCA'S STORY (but thank you to all LEO out there putting your life on the line. just remember people they have good and bad days and some are nice some are not dont judge them all by 1 or 2)

[BillCA]

I think I was the one who was surprised.

I'd told the judge that the officer's opinion was that I should have waited (in theory forever) until the light turned green. I did tell the judge that I watched the CHP unit after I carefully crossed the line and saw no reaction, then proceeded slowly. But the officer, in my opinion, knew he could out wait me.

When the judge asked how long I should've waited I was thinking "Cool, he gets it." Then suddenly he's basically calling the cop lazy or unconcerned about a "safety" issue and when the cop said "No sir" his dismissal said "Officer, you have no credibility with me."

I was astonished, really. I had expected the judge to lower the fine to something trivial or perhap waive a fine.