Man Says Device Bought On eBay Cut His Drive To Work

mimo2005 · 04-18-2006, 08:37 AM

Man Says Device Bought On eBay Cut His Drive To Work

LONGMONT, Colo. -- A Longmont man has been ticketed $50 for suspicion of interfering with a traffic signal, but he says he really enjoyed using it.

Jason Niccum told The Longmont Times-Call that he bought a device that let him change traffic lights from red to green, called an Opticon, on eBay for $100.

He told the newspaper the device "paid for itself" in the two years he had it, helping him cut his time driving to work.

Niccum was cited on March 29 after police said they caught him using the strobe-like device to change traffic signals. Police confiscated the Opticon, and informed Niccum it was illegal to possess it.

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

An Opticon shines a strobe light on the optical sensors set atop some traffic signals, causing lights to jam.

City traffic engineer Joe Olson said traffic engineers plan to update the city's system this year to block unauthorized light-changing signals. He estimated that a new system, which would be able to block out all unauthorized light-changing signals, will cost taxpayers about $75,000.

The Opticon devices, which are becoming more commonplace, are marketed through many different avenues. Dealers are instructed to sell only to "authorized users" such as volunteer first responders, doctors and security personnel, but it is easy for anyone to buy the devices online.

**bruiser** · 04-18-2006, 10:44 AM

Just do a search for "traffic light changers" and you can buy as many as you want, if you have the money.

ebackhus · 04-18-2006, 12:53 PM

I use my high beams for the same effect.

bry623 · 04-18-2006, 01:57 PM

I would love to have one of those, I think the city should make him pay for the changes!

**Glaswegian** · 04-18-2006, 03:29 PM

Superb! Would they work here?

Ghosty89 · 04-18-2006, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ebackhus

I use my high beams for the same effect.

I live about.. 6 miles from longmont.. and high beams do work

04-18-2006, 08:37 AM	#1 (permalink)
mimo2005 Manager, The Relaxation Room/Analyst, Security Team Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 11,142 OS: xp	Man Says Device Bought On eBay Cut His Drive To Work Man Says Device Bought On eBay Cut His Drive To Work LONGMONT, Colo. -- A Longmont man has been ticketed $50 for suspicion of interfering with a traffic signal, but he says he really enjoyed using it. Jason Niccum told The Longmont Times-Call that he bought a device that let him change traffic lights from red to green, called an Opticon, on eBay for $100. He told the newspaper the device "paid for itself" in the two years he had it, helping him cut his time driving to work. Niccum was cited on March 29 after police said they caught him using the strobe-like device to change traffic signals. Police confiscated the Opticon, and informed Niccum it was illegal to possess it. "I'm always running late," police quoted Niccum as saying in an incident report. An Opticon shines a strobe light on the optical sensors set atop some traffic signals, causing lights to jam. City traffic engineer Joe Olson said traffic engineers plan to update the city's system this year to block unauthorized light-changing signals. He estimated that a new system, which would be able to block out all unauthorized light-changing signals, will cost taxpayers about $75,000. The Opticon devices, which are becoming more commonplace, are marketed through many different avenues. Dealers are instructed to sell only to "authorized users" such as volunteer first responders, doctors and security personnel, but it is easy for anyone to buy the devices online. __________________ TSF has outgrown its server, again. Please help "Gutta cavat lapidem, non vi sed saepe cadendo"

04-18-2006, 12:53 PM	#3 (permalink)
ebackhus Manager, Design Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: SATX Posts: 14,243 OS: WinXP Pro SP3/Windows 7 RTM My System Blog Entries: 28	I use my high beams for the same effect. __________________ ----------------------------- There are no dumb questions, unless a customer is asking them. Help in the fight against cancer and other serious illnesses.

04-18-2006, 01:57 PM	#4 (permalink)
bry623 Manager, The Conversation Pit/Analyst, Security Team Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: NW Territory circa 1787 Posts: 11,692 OS: winxp pro sp2	I would love to have one of those, I think the city should make him pay for the changes! __________________ "If you aren't a liberal when you're 20, you have no heart. If you aren't a conservative when you are 50, you have no brain"

04-18-2006, 03:29 PM	#5 (permalink)
Glaswegian Moderator/ Rangemaster TSF Academy; Analyst, Security Team; Oor Wullie; TSF Surgeon and Resident Comic Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Glasgow Posts: 25,393 OS: Win XP Pro SP3 / Win 7 Pro My System Blog Entries: 10	Superb! Would they work here? __________________ Iain - Defender of the Haggis and all things Scottish. I don't help by PM - post in the Forums. PC Safety & Security::PC running a bit slow?::Donate::Photographers Corner

04-18-2006, 10:44 AM	#2 (permalink)
bruiser TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 1,973 OS: xp	Just do a search for "traffic light changers" and you can buy as many as you want, if you have the money.