Colorado Man Accused of Changing Traffic Lights

Law Enforcement News ^ | April 18th, 2006 | The Associated Press

[garyhope]

"Roundabouts. Once people learn how to use them, they work very well."

Even this American learned to use them in England.

[tarawa]

yes, but the lights in Austin are purposely set to cause as much traffic congestion as possible.

[Oldhunk]

The device would only be useful on streets where a City has installed special switching devices to allow fire trucks or emergency vehicles to get priority treatment. The guy used a device that would normally be mounted on the top of a fire truck.

These emergency vehicle prority systems are not everywhere.

[RJL]

"Roundabouts. Once people learn how to use them, they work very well."

Even this American learned to use them in England.

I was surprised to learn that the city is putting in a couple roundabout near my home in suburban Minneapolis.

I'm both hopeful and somewhat doubtful that they will work better than what we have, but it will be interesting in any case.

[Slicksadick]

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[Oldhunk]

"I don't understand why every traffic light in the US is not controlled by an inexpensive computer(heck, you could use old 386's or 486's, they're powerful enough to run an intersection) that if there are no cars coming from an opposing direction, the light would be green."

Actually, one of the first commercial applications of microprocessor chips were in local intersection traffic computers way back in late 70's. All intersection controllers today are really specialized computers.

[rundy]

A sadist set the timing.

No, Monkeys with random number generators set the timing, at least that is what happended here in Salt Lake City on Bangerter "Highway" an alternative North-South artery that feeds Salt Lake International Airport. These civil engineers obviously slept through their college careers.

rundy off.

[rwfromkansas]

They are quite common and only rather small towns don't have it.

And those towns you would not need it for.

[sionnsar]

"Roundabouts. Once people learn how to use them, they work very well."
"Even this American learned to use them in England.
I was surprised to learn that the city is putting in a couple roundabout near my home in suburban Minneapolis. I'm both hopeful and somewhat doubtful that they will work better than what we have, but it will be interesting in any case.

They have put in a few in the Seattle Eastside area and people are beginning to catch on, though it's annoying when some creeps up to one and... stops.

I wish they'd copy the UK signage scheme, though.

[jiggyboy]

Roundabouts. Once people learn how to use them, they work very well.

That's the rub. New Jersey finally gave up and started ripping them out.

[rwfromkansas]

You can get this cell phone jammer for 200 bucks or so:

http://www.globalgadgetuk.com/Personal.htm

They are illegal in the US, but not a big deal. They still export them here and nobody has apparently ever been arrested for using one despite it being illegal.

[rwfromkansas]

You can buy a traffic light changer for 300 bucks from this company.

It supposedly changes it from 1500 feet away.

http://www.sportsimportsltd.com/trlich.html

I would not be willing to risk a ticket for using one in Kansas, but if I was actually living in Baltimore or the DC area (where I visited last month), the answer would be heck yeah. The traffic was just horrible. This device does not put others in danger at all and is pretty darn sweet. The chances of getting caught are slim as well.

[rwfromkansas]

This traffic light changer does not emit a visible beam, so you would not ever get caught.

It is also very small:

http://www.sportsimportsltd.com/misttrlich.html

[Minn]

My record so far is an hour and a half to travel 3 miles.

One word: "Bicycle"

[avg_freeper]

One word: "Bicycle"

Two words: "Atlanta Drivers". Anyway my total commute is about 25-30 miles. Only 3-4 miles of it is screwed up.

[avg_freeper]

The article mentions that the signals can be encrypted. I imagine that will start to be common place.

[mysterio]

Stoplights in my area are timed to stop you at every one. I have no idea what the purpose of this is. There aren't cameras here yet, so it must be something with local business or something. Like if you get stopped, you might want to buy something I guess.

[rwfromkansas]

You can build your own changer for 20 bucks using plans from this site.

http://www.i-hacked.com/content/view/176/44/

However, states like Maryland are now encrypting their signals due to the internet sales of the changers.

It is also now a federal crime to use these as part of last year's transportation bill.

It would be too much of a risk IMO since a red light camera could catch you doing it.

[dfwgator]

I like traffic lights,
I like traffic lights,
I like traffic lights,
I like traffic lights,
I like traffic lights,
But only when they're green.

[CAWats]

Most of the companies on the Internet selling these gadgets (sometimes called go-boxes) will rip you off.