There is an intersection in Roxborough at the intersection of Ridge, Hermit, and Righter where there are two lanes, the left is a hard left and straight, while the right is a soft right or hard right. All the time, while making a left from Ridge to Righter toward Henry, the lane's light will be skipped for a few cycles and when it finally turns green, it's only green for maybe 5 seconds. The first time I encountered this light one midnight, I waited at least five minutes before I blew it with nobody around.

Is the light supposed to be this way or is it just malfunctioning?

Yes, that light has been that way forever (at least back to the early 80's that I know of). And usually only two or three cars are able to get thru the light before it changes to red again.

Sounds like when you are trying to make a left onto green from the Belmont exit on 76east

That light alternates with a walk signal. Don't blow it - that would be illegal. In other words, there are three phases: Hermit green, then Ridge green, then the left turn or pedestrian, depending upon the cycle. It used to turn green immediately after Hermit, but people asleep at the switch would screw things up. Now that it turns green after Ridge Ave Northbound gets its red people are less likely to miss it.

Would you believe it if I told you that that particular light used to be even worse than it is today?

Prior to - and I'm guessing here - 1999-2000, only two or three cars at the most made that light when it was green. And that third car was pushing it.

I got a ticket there for blowing through the red after coming up the hill on Righter and then going straight on Ridge. I admitted my guilt to the officer from the fightin' 5th, and fought it in court.

I wore a suit to court and was very articulate. I told hiz honor that the light was very short compared to the usual 25-second green lights in the area. He asked me if I had contacted Penndot concerning the problem. I told him not yet.

I was told to sit in the back row of the court room and would be given a "reduced sentence." Then they took a group of us back row people into a little room where they said the tickets were dropped and we were free to go.