A new piece of legislation recently went into effect in Pennsylvania that is referred to as the Ride on Red law. It essentially allows drivers to go through red lights under certain circumstances. The point of the law is to add a little common sense into people’s driving habits and reduce congestion. However, since the law is so new, you may go through a light and be hit with a red light violation from police. Although you should contact a criminal lawyer in Bensalem to help your case, it is beneficial to learn a little about this new law.

What Does the Law Do?

The Ride on Red law allows drivers stopped at a red light to go through the intersection as long as they exercise common sense. If no other vehicles are going through the intersection, then it would be lawful for the driver to basically view the red light as a stop sign. Occasionally, red lights cannot see that a vehicle is waiting if it is particularly small or if the light is broken. Therefore, drivers could be stuck at red lights even though no other cars are going the other way.

What Vehicles Does the Law Cover? 

The law was initially intended for motorcycles. Since motorcycles are smaller than cars, many red lights could not detect them and would not change. However, the law passed applies to all vehicles, including regularly sized automobiles. The law also states that cars cannot do anything dangerous when going through the red light. The law is simply meant to be a practical solution so that cars are not waiting for minutes on end at a red light that is not changing.

In the event you receive a red light violation from police, you should review your options with a criminal lawyer in Bensalem immediately. Your situation may be protected under the Ride on Red law, and you can save yourself a lot of hassle down the line.

Riding on Red Law in Bensalem

Even if you are arrested and charged, there is still hope. An experienced criminal defense attorney in Pennsylvania, like Michael Applebaum, can help you aggressively combat charges, and many will provide a free initial consultation. Investing in your own legal representation may help you avoid thousands of dollars in fines, as well as possible felony convictions and state prison time, depending on the severity of the charge.