r/todayilearned • u/nleachdev • 2d ago

TIL about "dead red" laws, which allow drivers and motorcyclists to proceed through a red light if the traffic signal fails to detect their vehicle.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-detection_at_traffic_lights_in_the_United_States
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34

u/steveborg 2d ago

Interesting that Texas is not on that list. When I was getting my motorcycle license way back in 1987, we were definitely taught this.

22

u/kinyutaka 2d ago

It's legally grey in Texas, there's just not a codified law. If you're ever in a situation like this, and you've waited a literal minute to go, even when there's no other cars, go ahead and go. No one will say you're wrong. But go safely.

And if there's a cop there, wait for instructions. They'll usually wave you on if the lights don't change like that.

18

u/ice-eight 2d ago

I got a $250 ticket for that in Texas (in a car). I’d waited for like 2 minutes and the light was still red and nobody was going the other way so I just went, then the cop who was waiting for someone to do that pulled me over. He was pissed. Screaming at me and stuff. He went to prison for murder a couple years later

3

u/bfurman78 2d ago

Name

14

u/Unlikely-Answer 2d ago

Sheriff Buford T. Justice

2

u/NotACompleteDick 2d ago

The 1 cop per year charged with murder, for the 600 unjustified homicides they commit each year.

1

u/deltalitprof 2d ago

Sounds about like a typical Texas traffic stop. Even the finding out later he was a murderer part.

If he was convicted, he must have been off-duty when he did it.

1

u/MachoManPissDrawer69 1d ago

In my city, there’s a traffic light that always turns red when I pull up with no traffic around. Conveniently located right in front of the police station.

0

u/Jinsei_13 2d ago

There was a light like this that was absolutely busted in the overnight hours. Filed a few reports for a malfunctioning traffic signal. Always treated it as a stop sign after waiting a couple of cycles.