NJ S1400 Allow MC to go thru red light

Late to the party AGAIN, their's a bill in the NJ legislature to allow a motorcycle to proceed through a red light when the calibration on the light doesn't allow it to 'see' a motorcycle.   It's presently in committee, and it will be interesting to see how they twist this relatively simple bill around so it's useless.

S1400 text:
Notwithstanding subsections a. and b. of this section, when
 an operator of a motorcycle, motorized bicycle, or bicycle
 approaches a traffic control signal that is displaying a
 malfunctioning steady red light, the operator may proceed through
 that intersection if the operator: (1) comes to a full and complete
 stop at the intersection for two complete cycles of the opposing
 traffic control signal or for two minutes, whichever is shorter; and
(2) otherwise treats the traffic control signal as a stop intersection,
as provided in R.S.39:4-144.
(cf: P.L.2004, c.92, s.1)

That’s a lot better than getting off the bike and jumping up and down on the sensor in the blacktop!

Knew about this one. I believe there's already a law concerning malfunctioning red lights that allows one to proceed after a 'reasonable' period of waiting. Not recognizing a motorcycle could be considered a malfunction.

I have done that a couple times and was pulled over on once occasion. When I explained it to the officer he said something to the effect of 'sounds reasonable' and let me go.

Oh you mean that's not legal now.

It's NOT legal to go straight thru a red light in New Jersey. It is in a lot of other States but you better be sure if there is a LEO around.
Pennsylvania passed a similar law a year,or so, ago but they managed to screw that up royally. In PA any vehicle can go thru a red light if they think the light isn't working (no time specified). So if your ridding down a nice country road in PA and about to go thru a green light, that truck sitting at the red could just pull in front of you. The driver would say 'It was a motorcycle I didn't see it' the judge would agree and you would be dead.
It makes sense to let a MC go through because chances are he won't pull in front on an 18 wheeler.

This has been sitting in the Senate transportation committee waiting action for almost a year.  It's sister bill in the assembly ( A3204) in the Assembly Transportation and Independent Authorities Committee has suffered the same fate.

Strange they can pass a tax increase in a week or two but this seems to be a major issue.

The bill is relatively short, seems like anything (like Veterans MC license plates ) just goes into a Transportation committee and dies.



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Have to agree with you. If there's not financial benefit to the State it sits while other more 'important' legislation (tax increases) sail right through into law.