Motorcycles in Illinois Can Now Run Red Lights

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  Posted by BikerNews December 29, 2011 - Filed in Motorcycle News - 3,119 views
  

  A new law in Illinois that will allow motorcyclists to run red lights takes effect Jan 1, 2012.
  
  The law is a response to complaints that some road censors that change stop lights don't detect the presence of motorcycles because their lighter weight.
  
  The new law says if a red light hasn't changed after quote a "reasonable length of time" a motorcyclist can run that light. However one important item in the new motorcycle red light law is that it only applies to cities with less than 2,000,000 people.  If my research is correct only one city in Illinois has over 2,000,000 people, and that is Chicago with 2,695,598
  
  Here is the exact wording on the two changes made to the code...
  
  (c-6) A county, or a municipality with less than 2,000,000 inhabitants, including a home rule county or municipality, may not use an automated traffic law enforcement system to issue violations in instances where a motorcyclist enters an intersection against a red signal indication when the red signal fails to change to a green signal within a reasonable period of time because of a signal malfunction or because the signal has failed to detect the arrival of the motorcycle due to the motorcycle's size or weight.
  
  3.5. In municipalities with less than 2,000,000 inhabitants, after stopping as required by paragraph 1 or 2 of this subsection, the driver of a motorcycle or bicycle, facing a steady red signal which fails to change to a green signal within a reasonable period of time because of a signal malfunction or because the signal has failed to detect the arrival of the motorcycle or bicycle due to the vehicle's size or weight, shall have the right to proceed, after yielding the right of way to oncoming traffic facing a green signal, subject to the rules applicable after making a stop at a stop sign as required by Section 11-1204 of this Code.
  
  The complete code can be viewed here... http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/publicacts/fulltext.asp?Name=097-0627