If I understand the question; there's an intersection I pass every morning, early, that if there's no cars around I just roll through. It's a T intersection, I'm going straight through. The perpendicular road is on the opposite side of the road. I'm to the right. So even IF cars were turning into the route, I'd be clear in most cases.
Here's the spot I'm thinking of:
passing by the old convention center on the right, 6th Avenue to the left

It's NOT legal.
However at 6am, I'm often the only vehicle/person on the road other an a couple taxis parked along side the road waiting for someone to come out of the hotel(s).
The lights are timed just so, that if I'm stopped at 7th (behind the streetview link) this light will go red just as the light at 7th turns green - forcing a stop at both lights. Then If I stop at 6th, the same scenario repeats at 5th. If no one is around, I roll through 6th and it allows me to go from 7th through 5th without stopping. I always stop at 8th, 7th, 5th if red (I turn on 4th). It's only 6th that I give this treatment.
Again, not legal but otherwise I'm forced to stop at every block -with no one around.