You have to mind your Ps and Qs in NYC especially when there's a police presence. Bicycles have to obey traffic laws and are treated as vehicles so if you run a red light you and are caught you will be issued a ticket and it will be treated as a moving violation. I once got a ticket in 1999 for blowing a red light, but I did it to avoid getting hit by a cab who made an abrupt turn onto the bike lane in order to pick up a passenger. I explained to the officer why I ran the light but he wasn't having it so I fought it in court where the judge had me pay the fine but would not put points on my license because of my good driving record.