This forum has a lot of collective wisdom and I have a question that I haven't been able to find a satisfactory answer to. In short, is there any legal statute that defines a signal malfunctioning other than being completely inoperative (dark) whereby the intersection becomes a four way stop. Say for example, one that is failing to transition within X amount of time that is aberrant based upon experience with the signal or similar obvious malfunction.
I have looked at the signal statues and DOT guides, but it seems as if this situation is left not covered, perhaps intentionally.
I experience what I believe was a malfunctioning light this weekend. Basically, it failed to transition in a time period grossly in excess by several minutes of what has been my experience of roughly 15 years. Traffic was backing up significantly behind me and a car had pulled out of a plaza into the (left) lane and blocking the (right) lane which was also backing up. Finally, using a blinker, I tried to transition to the right lane as best I could (not very well) and made a right turn when there was no traffic coming in that direction. Of course, the light transitioned as I was making the right hand turn.
What makes me suspicious about the light and the timing change (?) is that there was a cop in his car, sitting in the corner of the plaza parking lot observing the intersection.
It caused me to once again look for legal guidance but I am coming up short.
What says this crowd of experts?
I have looked at the signal statues and DOT guides, but it seems as if this situation is left not covered, perhaps intentionally.
I experience what I believe was a malfunctioning light this weekend. Basically, it failed to transition in a time period grossly in excess by several minutes of what has been my experience of roughly 15 years. Traffic was backing up significantly behind me and a car had pulled out of a plaza into the (left) lane and blocking the (right) lane which was also backing up. Finally, using a blinker, I tried to transition to the right lane as best I could (not very well) and made a right turn when there was no traffic coming in that direction. Of course, the light transitioned as I was making the right hand turn.
What makes me suspicious about the light and the timing change (?) is that there was a cop in his car, sitting in the corner of the plaza parking lot observing the intersection.
It caused me to once again look for legal guidance but I am coming up short.
What says this crowd of experts?