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From: davem@tekchips.UUCP (Dave Menicosy)
Newsgroups: net.cycle
Subject: Re: Smart Traffic Lights?
Message-ID: <24@tekchips.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 23-Jul-85 13:19:23 EDT
Article-I.D.: tekchips.24
Posted: Tue Jul 23 13:19:23 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 26-Jul-85 03:22:12 EDT
References: <658@ihu1g.UUCP>
Reply-To: davem@tekchips.UUCP (Dave Menicosy)
Distribution: net
Organization: Tektronix, Beaverton OR
Lines: 31

There are many traffic-actuated lights in the area where I live and work.
Whenever one of the sensors does not pick up my motorcycle (it's a 1000cc
bike, so there's no shortage of metal for the sensor to pick up), I
call the organization that is in charge of maintaining the traffic
signals, and make sure they know that it isn't working correctly.

It's a little difficult to find out who's responsible for the lights.
In my situation, I start with the town I live in.  If they
claim not to be responsible, the county traffic engineer gets a call.
If he's not the one, then the state highways department is next.
Notice that they're not always glad to hear from me, but I've seen
them out there with a police motorcycle checking the signal out after
I've called.  I stopped to chat with the guys one time, and apparently
my call prompted them to go adjust the signal.

I've seen the motorcycle police in my area run through traffic actuated
lights that I've called to complain about -- light is still red, and
the officer doesn't use his lights or siren.  Notice that it's a town
cop running through a state-maintained light.  Oregon has a law that
limits the length of time for a traffic light to cycle through its
routine.  After that amount of time has passed, I usually proceed
*CAUTIOUSLY* through the intersection.  It'll be interesting when I
finally get a ticket and have to go talk to a judge about running
red lights when the signal refuses to acknowledge me.

Has anybody actually had to take that one to court?  If so, I think
there are a bunch of motorcyclists who'd like to hear a little about
what the outcome was.

	Dave Menicosy			503-245-3930
	 ..tektronix!tekchips!davem	503-627-6197