5.02.2014

Indiana's 'Dead Red' Law


Indiana House Bill 1080 (Adjourned Sine Die)


Title:
  • Proceeding through intersection at red light.
Summary:
  • Authorizes the operator of a
  • (1) motorcycle
  • (2) motorized bicycle
  • (3) motor scooter
  • (4) bicycle; 
  • Approaching an intersection that is controlled by a traffic control signal to proceed through the intersection on a steady red signal under certain circumstances. 
  • Makes corresponding amendments.
Status:
  • Completed Legislative Action 
  • Status: Passed on March 27 2014 - 100% progress
  • Action: 2014-03-27 - Signed by the Governor

**Takes Effect in July 1st, 2014**


The 'Dead Red' law as stated written, is attached in PDF form so you can have a copy in writing for yourself and hopefully not the officer who just stopped you for running a red light.  'Dead Red' Law PDF

I know it's time to hit the road and put some miles on the motorcycle. Have you ever been stuck at a red light just waiting for a car or truck to pull up behind to so they can trigger the light? Now Indiana has joined 15 other states (Arkansas, California, Idaho, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin and Virginia) have ABATE (American Bikers Aimed Toward Education) also supports this legislation that they say will help operators of motorcycles, motorized bicycles and motor scooters when trying to proceed at a stoplight with no traffic signal detection. I read a statement by Jay Jackson the Executive Director of ABATE Indiana he said "In the past these people had to sit there indefinitely or violate the law."
passed in their own variations the 'dead red' law. Some include bicyclists, some don’t. Some require the motorcyclist to wait one minute, some two minutes and some just a reasonable amount of time.
“In the past these people had to sit there indefinitely or violate the law,” said Jay Jackson, executive director of ABATE Indiana, an advocacy group for Hoosier motorcyclists.
Read more at http://fox59.com/2014/05/01/state-launches-new-motorcycle-safety-campaign-ahead-of-new-red-light-law/#fAQyCoc2Kf6U4MDa.99
“In the past these people had to sit there indefinitely or violate the law,” said Jay Jackson, executive director of ABATE Indiana, an advocacy group for Hoosier motorcyclists.
Read more at http://fox59.com/2014/05/01/state-launches-new-motorcycle-safety-campaign-ahead-of-new-red-light-law/#fAQyCoc2Kf6U4MDa.99

We do have to be very careful the people who are in those metal cages (cars) are probably not going to understand why we can go through and they cannot. I have been reading a lot of comments from the public on the law. Some of the comments I liked were "So when a motorcyclist thinks its clear and guns it and gets smacked and tossed off his bike and the car had the green light, whose fault
is it? With this new law, why is it I see the fatality rate of bikers, mopeds going up!! SMDH", "This is the most stupid thing i have saw in a long time does the law apply for car and trucks also does it also mean if they blow through a red light it automatically there fault for a accident", "If they can do it why can't cars? I've sat at red lights at five thirty in the morning with no traffic coming or going an I have to sit and wait for five minutes but a bike doesn't have to", and "I guess our new lesson is to teach lack of patience on the road for motorcyclist. Isn't that discriminatory for other vehicles".