Is this illegal?

stilts1 · June 2012

Is flashing your headlights to warm other drivers of hidden police vehicles waiting for their next victim illegal? I consider it my civic duty (not really) to warn others, but I don't want to risk getting a ticket myself. So what's the verdict? Flash away or keep the hidden danger to myself?

nikipau144 · June 2012

I would never do this on a highway just because there are so many other cars on the road, however I have done it on side roads. I haven't in a very long time though.

jess60 · June 2012

I didn't know people did this to warn of police. If someone did that to me, I'd assume I didn't have my headlights on.

Brie2006 · June 2012

There was a class action lawsuit filed in Florida over this issue last year.

The judge ruled that flashing lights to warn drivers is considered free speech and driver's cannot be ticketed.

The Florida Highway Patrol issued a statement that they would no longer be ticketing for this reason.

So if you live in Florida, you are good to go!

nikipau144 · June 2012

EllaHella:
LoisLane23:

Semis do it all the time to let cars and other trucks know that they are clear to move back over into the lane when they are passing.

And they tap their brakes twice to say "thank you" for letting them over.

I enjoy when they "talk" to you. I love courtesy.

stilts1 · June 2012

PB1980:

Why would you warn other drivers about hidden police vehicles?

Who cares if speeders get caught?

I guess I consider it a " you scratch my back I'll scratch yours" type of thing. I'm pretty sure I've avoided several tickets by someone doing this. (not that it's an excuse for speeding)

MJHershey · June 2012

PB1980:
Why would you warn other drivers about hidden police vehicles?

Who cares if speeders get caught?

This. It's their own problem.

ames71 · June 2012

Am I the only one who drifts above the speed limit from time to time? Everyone here always goes the speed limit? Right.

Manateearmz · June 2012

I used to do this all the time as a teenager. I felt that it was my god given right to speed.

Fast forward to me at 31, if a person is speeding I hope they get a ticket. I'm not warning anybody. .

LovesMM · June 2012

ames17:
Am I the only one who drifts above the speed limit from time to time? Everyone here always goes the speed limit? Right.

Known speed trap sites, I go 2mph under speed limit. Everywhere else, it's right at or 5 over.

DeerHunter79 · June 2012

Don't know if its illegal but I also don't care if other speeders were to get pulled over.

Abinormal · June 2012

ames17:
Am I the only one who drifts above the speed limit from time to time? Everyone here always goes the speed limit? Right.

We have a lot of roads in our city with ridiculous low speed limits. On these roads, people regularly go 10-15 mph above the posted speed limit. If you happen to be someone who is going to the speed limit, you are not a well liked individual, lol! Anyway, about once a month, the local police force will send out about 5 police cars to patrol each of these roads. On that day, people flash their lights like ALL DAY LONG and I happily join in with the flashing. The fact that the city won't change the speed limits on these roads is ridiculous!

FrickandFrack · June 2012

LovesMM:

ames17:
Am I the only one who drifts above the speed limit from time to time? Everyone here always goes the speed limit? Right.

Known speed trap sites, I go 2mph under speed limit. Everywhere else, it's right at or 5 over.

Why would you go under the speed limit?

Manateearmz · June 2012

ames17:
Am I the only one who drifts above the speed limit from time to time? Everyone here always goes the speed limit? Right.

Most of the time I do go the speed limit. If I'm not going the speed limit I can't be upset if I get ticketed. It's the law, so if I know that I'm breaking it I deserve a ticket. I'm not a person that gets angry if I get pulled over, when I know that I was in the wrong.

LovesMM · June 2012

kfrix13:
LovesMM:

ames17:
Am I the only one who drifts above the speed limit from time to time? Everyone here always goes the speed limit? Right.

Known speed trap sites, I go 2mph under speed limit. Everywhere else, it's right at or 5 over.

Why would you go under the speed limit?

Because LAtroopers are assholios and will pull you over for the smallest increased speed. I live near one of the trooper stations and they suck. So to make sure you are clearly not "speeding" you do less.

ames71 · June 2012

Manateearmz:
ames17:
Am I the only one who drifts above the speed limit from time to time? Everyone here always goes the speed limit? Right.

Most of the time I do go the speed limit. If I'm not going the speed limit I can't be upset if I get ticketed. It's the law, so if I know that I'm breaking it I deserve a ticket. I'm not a person that gets angry if I get pulled over, when I know that I was in the wrong.

Absolutely. But a little headlight flash reminder is welcome in my car.

ETA: I should add, that I tend to be more aware of my speed after I get a warning. I sometimes creep up on my speed accidentally. It's not, "Oh, the speed limit is 65? How about 90 then? Suck it!"

mommytosam011011 · June 2012

EllaHella:
LoisLane23:

Semis do it all the time to let cars and other trucks know that they are clear to move back over into the lane when they are passing.

And they tap their brakes twice to say "thank you" for letting them over.

I didn't know about this until my ex and I were driving up to Dallas late at night and we noticed the semis doing this. I thought it was so cool.

FrickandFrack · June 2012

LovesMM:
kfrix13:
LovesMM:

ames17:
Am I the only one who drifts above the speed limit from time to time? Everyone here always goes the speed limit? Right.

Known speed trap sites, I go 2mph under speed limit. Everywhere else, it's right at or 5 over.

Why would you go under the speed limit?

Because LAtroopers are assholios and will pull you over for the smallest increased speed. I live near one of the trooper stations and they suck. So to make sure you are clearly not "speeding" you do less.

Wouldn't it just make sense to go the speed limit and set your cruise control to that? You know you can get a ticket for going under the speed limit also, right? That's why I was asking.

LovesMM · June 2012

kfrix13:
LovesMM:
kfrix13:
LovesMM:

ames17:
Am I the only one who drifts above the speed limit from time to time? Everyone here always goes the speed limit? Right.

Known speed trap sites, I go 2mph under speed limit. Everywhere else, it's right at or 5 over.

Why would you go under the speed limit?

Because LAtroopers are assholios and will pull you over for the smallest increased speed. I live near one of the trooper stations and they suck. So to make sure you are clearly not "speeding" you do less.

Wouldn't it just make sense to go the speed limit and set your cruise control to that? You know you can get a ticket for going under the speed limit also, right? That's why I was asking.

You can get a ticket for going under the MINIMUM Speed which around here is 40mph.

FrickandFrack · June 2012

LovesMM:
kfrix13:
LovesMM:
kfrix13:
LovesMM:

ames17:
Am I the only one who drifts above the speed limit from time to time? Everyone here always goes the speed limit? Right.

Known speed trap sites, I go 2mph under speed limit. Everywhere else, it's right at or 5 over.

Why would you go under the speed limit?

Because LAtroopers are assholios and will pull you over for the smallest increased speed. I live near one of the trooper stations and they suck. So to make sure you are clearly not "speeding" you do less.

Wouldn't it just make sense to go the speed limit and set your cruise control to that? You know you can get a ticket for going under the speed limit also, right? That's why I was asking.

You can get a ticket for going under the MINIMUM Speed which around here is 40mph.

Didn't you say you go under when there are traps?

LovesMM · June 2012

kfrix13:
LovesMM:
kfrix13:
LovesMM:
kfrix13:
LovesMM:

ames17:
Am I the only one who drifts above the speed limit from time to time? Everyone here always goes the speed limit? Right.

Known speed trap sites, I go 2mph under speed limit. Everywhere else, it's right at or 5 over.

Why would you go under the speed limit?

Because LAtroopers are assholios and will pull you over for the smallest increased speed. I live near one of the trooper stations and they suck. So to make sure you are clearly not "speeding" you do less.

Wouldn't it just make sense to go the speed limit and set your cruise control to that? You know you can get a ticket for going under the speed limit also, right? That's why I was asking.

You can get a ticket for going under the MINIMUM Speed which around here is 40mph.

Didn't you say you go under when there are traps?

I go under the posted Maximum speed limit yes. I'll go 68 instead of 70 in those areas.

FrickandFrack · June 2012

LovesMM:
kfrix13:
LovesMM:
kfrix13:
LovesMM:
kfrix13:
LovesMM:

ames17:
Am I the only one who drifts above the speed limit from time to time? Everyone here always goes the speed limit? Right.

Known speed trap sites, I go 2mph under speed limit. Everywhere else, it's right at or 5 over.

Why would you go under the speed limit?

Because LAtroopers are assholios and will pull you over for the smallest increased speed. I live near one of the trooper stations and they suck. So to make sure you are clearly not "speeding" you do less.

Wouldn't it just make sense to go the speed limit and set your cruise control to that? You know you can get a ticket for going under the speed limit also, right? That's why I was asking.

You can get a ticket for going under the MINIMUM Speed which around here is 40mph.

Didn't you say you go under when there are traps?

I go under the posted Maximum speed limit yes. I'll go 68 instead of 70 in those areas.

Oh, ok. I get it now.

hmp1 · June 2012

I don't flash to warn of speed traps. I have flashed at drivers that look to be driving too fast in hopes that they will think there is a cop ahead and slow the eff down.

quidditchcapn1120 · June 2012

I don't know if it is illegal here or not, but I do remember reading that cops don't really care if it is done because it accomplishes the goal- people slow down.

The chronic speeders I know (for one, my grandpa) just pay lawyers to get tickets off their records and don't seem to be bothered by the ticketing system.

I don't do the flashing headlights (especially since I mostly take mass transit now) but I would definitely appreciate it if someone did to warn me of a danger up ahead. I'm not really a speeder so that isn't an issue for me.

winomom22 · June 2012

I don't warn people. If they are going too fast, I actually hope they get pulled over and get a ticket because they are putting others at risk.

jenny1523 · June 2012

quidditchcapn1120:
I don't know if it is illegal here or not, but I do remember reading that cops don't really care if it is done because it accomplishes the goal- people slow down.
The chronic speeders I know (for one, my grandpa) just pay lawyers to get tickets off their records and don't seem to be bothered by the ticketing system.
I don't do the flashing headlights (especially since I mostly take mass transit now) but I would definitely appreciate it if someone did to warn me of a danger up ahead. I'm not really a speeder so that isn't an issue for me.

This. My husband is a police officer and said they won't pull you over for flashing your lights. That is the point of them sitting there, to get you to slow down so you are helping them out! I also work at a law firm and people who always speed have an attorney who get them out of their ticket every time.

monkiem · June 2012

ames17:
Am I the only one who drifts above the speed limit from time to time? Everyone here always goes the speed limit? Right.

Looks like we're in the minority.

I'm a self-admitted speeder, unless Alec is in the car with me. I'm not a reckless driver, and I don't do upteen-thousand mph over the limit, but I consistently do about 5-10mph over.

That said, on residential streets, I'm a slow-poke doing under the limit. I'm petrified of hitting a kid.

Wufroggy79 · June 2012

I have known people to flash their lights to warn of a cop sitting trying to catch speeders, especially in speed trap areas. I never knew that this was considered illegal before though. I wonder how anyone has ever really been ticketed for this though because you do it after you have already passed the cop.

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