Oh BS.Traffic Signal Changer Used To Get The Green.

[mcs328]

http://wtop.com/?nid=456&sid=759494

LONGMONT, Colo. (AP) - A man who said he bought a device that let him change traffic lights from red to green has received a $50 ticket on suspicion of interfering with a traffic signal.

Jason Niccum of Longmont told the Daily Times-Call that the device, which he bought on eBay for $100, helped him cut his time driving to work.

"I guess in the two years I had it, that thing paid for itself," he told the newspaper Wednesday.

Niccum was cited March 29 after police said they found him using a strobe-like device to change traffic signals.

"I'm always running late," police quoted Niccum as saying in an incident report.

The device, called an Opticon, is similar to what firefighters use to change lights when they respond to emergencies. It emits an infrared pulse that receivers on the traffic lights pick up.

Niccum was cited after city traffic engineers who noticed repeated traffic-light disruptions on certain intersections spotted a white Ford pickup passing by whenever the light patterns were disrupted.

City traffic engineer Joe Olson said traffic engineers plan to update the city's Opticon system this year to block unauthorized light-changing signals.

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He got off way too lightly. That to me calls for instant suspension of your license if not a lifetime revoke-tion.

[clutchy]

I want one.

I don't think people in the US could get around if you revoked their license. That seems a little heavy handed, not to mention I think most people drive around even if their license has been revoked...

[speedracer120]

:shifty: there are instructions on how to build one for evaluation puproses. :shifty:

In all seriousness, while there are times in the middle of the night I wish I had one, using one during rush hour will just mess up everyone's commute.

[blueindian]

i think i'm getting one of those. check this one out:
http://www.sportsimportsltd.com/misttrlich.html


edit: maybe not.



[UPDATE]
It is now a FEDERAL Offense to Sell or Use any Traffic Preemption device by an authorized user. This has been passed by the Safe Intersections Act of 2005, an addition to the tranist bill signed recently by President Bush. The Penalty is as follows:
`(a) Offenses-

`(1) SALE- A person who knowingly sells a traffic signal preemption transmitter in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce to a person who is not acting on behalf of a public agency or private corporation authorized by law to provide fire protection, law enforcement, emergency medical services, transit services, maintenance, or other services for a Federal, State, or local government entity, shall, notwithstanding section 3571(b) of title 18, United States Code, be fined not more than $10,000, imprisoned not more than 1 year, or both.

`(2) USE- A person who makes unauthorized use of a traffic signal preemption transmitter in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce shall be fined not more than $10,000, imprisoned not more than 6 months, or both.

[bachviet]

$10K and/or 6 months? No thanks.

[Merlin]

So they blame this guy because they run a system that is that easily manipulated. :thumbdown

[Itsme]

So they blame this guy because they run a system that is that easily manipulated. :thumbdown

In today's world I don't see how they can make this secure.

[MJordanash]

I think I'm going to pass on the 10 grand fine and the jail time. That extra minute at the light wont hurt me that much.

[guiseppewv]

So they blame this guy because they run a system that is that easily manipulated. :thumbdown

It is easy to manipulate a lot of things that still doesn't make it right. Besides they should have made it illegal from the begining to manipulate the lights and to produce/sell devices that manipulate the lights.


In today's world I don't see how they can make this secure.

They can make it more secure. The first step was to pass a law which makes it illegal to produce or use the devices - that has been done. The next step, which a lot of cities have done already, is to alter the system slightly. By alter the system, I mean make it so a particular code is needed to change the lights. In simplfied terms your RCA remote will not work on your Sony TV unless you have a specfic "code". Now some remotes are universal but that is b/c either a) the manufacturers share the "codes" or b) you can buy a remote and decipher the "codes".

[Itsme]

It is easy to manipulate a lot of things that still doesn't make it right.

I agree absolutely.


Besides they should have made it illegal from the begining to manipulate the lights and to produce/sell devices that manipulate the lights.

Isn't it sad that in today's world, that just about everything that's invented, or comes on the market has to have a slew of laws generated so that it can be protected from people who's goal in life is to destroy or overcome or make useless the item or service.

[Merlin]

It is easy to manipulate a lot of things that still doesn't make it right.
Ah that's just sour grapes. This guy found a way to leverage technology to make his day go better. More power to him. In the end is anyone actually harmed by this? No. No harm then no foul.

[Cubsfan]

Ah that's just sour grapes. This guy found a way to leverage technology to make his day go better. More power to him. In the end is anyone actually harmed by this? No. No harm then no foul.
I don't know. What happens if a firetruck is coming the other way using the same device? Delay in the truck getting to the fire? T-Bone because the firetruck was expecting it to change?

[cheapie]

I think I'm going to pass on the 10 grand fine and the jail time. That extra minute at the light wont hurt me that much.



what? it was only $50 and no time.

[Merlin]

I don't know. What happens if a firetruck is coming the other way using the same device? Delay in the truck getting to the fire? T-Bone because the firetruck was expecting it to change?
Duh, if you hear a siren then turn it off.

[guiseppewv]

Ah that's just sour grapes. This guy found a way to leverage technology to make his day go better. More power to him. In the end is anyone actually harmed by this? No. No harm then no foul.


No sour grapes here. I don't want one. :shrug: I have known about this tech for a long time. :shrug: I am not sure where the sour grapes are. :shrug: Sure other people were harmed by this - people had to stop at the lights he changed. He lengthened other people's commute.

[Merlin]

Sure other people were harmed by this - people had to stop at the lights he changed. He lengthened other people's commute.
But not the poeple behind him. They also benefitted. Zero sum game.

[Itsme]

But not the poeple behind him. They also benefitted. Zero sum game.

By that logic if a guy robs a bank it is ok because the robber spread the money around so that an even number benefitted compared to those who lost money.

[InfiniteNothing]

But not the poeple behind him. They also benefitted. Zero sum game.
Not true. A short light will be less efficient than a long light. Not to mention timing.

[mcs328]

So imagine everyone has one...traffic jam everywhere. You'll never move past the intersection and ambulance behind you can't get through because your light will always be red. Ok only person has it...you've been delayed by a minute and in that minute you died or someone else did. I still vote license suspension.

[Merlin]

Not true. A short light will be less efficient than a long light. Not to mention timing.
Assuming of couse that the traffic engineers did a proper job in the first place. For you in San Diego that may be the case but here in Georgia it is not.

Hell, almost none of our intersections here even have traffic sensors. Nothing like sitting at a pointless red light at 2 am with no traffic at all on the road. Yeah, the more I think about it the better this thing sounds.

[Houdini]

Assuming of couse that the traffic engineers did a proper job in the first place. For you in San Diego that may be the case but here in Georgia it is not.

Hell, almost none of our intersections here even have traffic sensors. Nothing like sitting at a pointless red light at 2 am with no traffic at all on the road. Yeah, the more I think about it the better this thing sounds.

:stupid:

At 2am, sitting at a red light can be downright dangerous, depending on where you are. I must admit I am guilty of running such lights under those conditions.

[InfiniteNothing]

I was referring to timed lights, where if you go the speed limit, you will hit more greens than reds. Using a device like a traffic interrupter will mess up the timing which has already been optimized. Traffic is not a zero sum game because of entrance effects such as the time it takes for a long line of traffic to get moving, where as, if the light were timed, a long line of traffic can blow through very fast . Imagine in the limit of everyone using these, we're back to a stop sign. Sensors can be used in conjunction with such a system especially with time sensitive traffic algorithms

[Grubbie]

I was referring to timed lights, where if you go the speed limit, you will hit more greens than reds. Using a device like a traffic interrupter will mess up the timing which has already been optimized. Traffic is not a zero sum game because of entrance effects such as the time it takes for a long line of traffic to get moving, where as, if the light were timed, a long line of traffic can blow through very fast . Imagine in the limit of everyone using these, we're back to a stop sign. Sensors can be used in conjunction with such a system especially with time sensitive traffic algorithms


I love it when I hit the timed lights just right on my way home from work. If I make it through the first three lights then hit the 4th and 5th right before they go yellow I normally hit all green until light 14 or 15. It makes the drive home much nicer when you hit 15 lights in a row.

[Merlin]

Lights are not timed well here. They may be engineers but they are still southern. :disa:

[guiseppewv]

Man, I hit the lights right this morning. :) I love it when that happens. It made my morning esp since I was running late. :)