Headlight flashing faces test as free speech in FL

[PokerGuy]

Sorry to disappoint some of you, this is not about that kind of flashing

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation...lights-free-speech-Florida-lawsuit/50458176/1

Interesting case. I always thought giving someone a ticket for flashing their headlights was bogus because the officer could not possibly know why someone happened to be flashing their lights. Maybe they were signalling for someone to move over to the next lane... or to be careful with a stalled vehicle, or just accidentally clicked the lights on.

He's just making an assumption that the person flashed their lights as a warning to another motorist about a speed trap. If you go with that logic, someone could get a ticket for flashing their lights even if they didn't even know there was a speed trap or cop around at all, even though flashing your lights is not itself a violation.

 

[a777pilot]

I never warn other drivers of a policeman . Why should I? I do the speed limit I assume others do or ought to, so they are on their own if they want to break the law. Would some of you warn a robber that the police were on their way so he could make a clean get a way? Maybe a rapist, too?

 

[dank69]

Speeding is directly comparable to stealing and raping.

 

[Jaskalas]

If the objective is to reduce speed, flashing lights achieves that. The effective presence an officer has on reducing speed is extended.

The police state, however, doesn't care about the practical benefits. All they see is a threat to their secrecy. Well f' them. I say our country's public servants require transparency.

 

[Howard]

Speeding is directly comparable to stealing and raping.

Of course.

 

[alkemyst]

I am usually flying too fast by to see the lights anyway....last ticket was 95mph in a 65mph.

VTEC kicked in mr occifer.

 

[MotF Bane]

Screw speed traps. It's not about safety, it's about revenue.

 

[JSt0rm]

i always flash my lights if someone doesnt have their lights on. Will I get in trouble now?

 

[dullard]

I never warn other drivers of a policeman . Why should I? I do the speed limit I assume others do or ought to, so they are on their own if they want to break the law. Would some of you warn a robber that the police were on their way so he could make a clean get a way? Maybe a rapist, too?

The whole purpose of speed traps is to get people to slow down to the speed determined to be safe for the road.

Flashing headlights gets people to slow down to the speed determined to be safe for the road.

Same exact result: safer driving.

Why are you opposed to encouraging safer driving? Are you hurt that judges won't have as much ticket revenue to put into their retirement accounts?

 

[soundforbjt]

It's union thuggery at it's finest, I tell ya.

 

[Nebor]

Maybe a rapist, too?

Well if it would cut the rape short I might consider it. How well hung is this rapist and how rough is he being?

 

[Macamus Prime]

I usually just ram my car into the back of the speeding car, fire a few bullet into the wheels and then drive it off the side of the road. I then walk up to the wrecked car and tell them; "You should be careful, there IS a speed trap around here".

And then, I set the entire car on fire, with the passengers in it. Then, I know for sure they won't get a speeding ticket.

 

[Ausm]

I help stimulate the economy by getting the best radar detector money can buy.

 

[Patranus]

How is blinking lights considered "speech".

speechNoun/spēCH/
1. The expression of or the ability to express thoughts and feelings by articulate sounds.
2. A person's style of speaking. More »

 

[dank69]

How is blinking lights considered "speech".

Is typing something on the internet 'speech?' That doesn't fit your narrow definition.

 

[PokerGuy]

i always flash my lights if someone doesnt have their lights on. Will I get in trouble now?

That's why I don't agree with the cop being able to give someone a ticket simply for flashing lights -- he has no way of knowing why you flashed your lights.

 

[Genx87]

lol

But, Roberts said, "warning oncoming traffic that there are law enforcement officers ahead allows a speeder to slow down until he passes the officers — and then he starts speeding again. In that sense, they're (headlight flashers) essentially interfering with legitimate law enforcement activity."

What he really wanted to say was it interfered with revenue generation for the state. Because if their goal were to reduce speeding and increase public safety. They would be completely fine with warning motorists about speed traps which will cause them to slow down and obey the law.

 

[PokerGuy]

How is blinking lights considered "speech".

The courts have long held many forms of communication that are not literally "speech" to be protected as "free speech". For example, non-verbal communication, or typing.

 

[Perknose]

Around here, on the endless two lane roads, all we non-New Yorker yuppie transplants warn each other about the occasional speed trap as an enlightened citizen courtesy.

The posted speed limits vary from 35 to 45, but no one does them on the back roads because the distance people are going is long, there are still mostly farms on either side, the traffic is light, and the other drivers (except the transplants) are generally competent and courteous.

So this initiative to criminalize light flashing is insane. It's a good thing our second amendment rights protect us from such behavior. Oh, wait . . .

 

[brandonb]

I always flash my lights when cops are sitting there with their speed guns. I always wondered if I'd get into trouble for doing it.

 

[brencat]

I'm old school and I ALWAYS flash my lights to warn drivers of a speed trap ahead where I can. (But I do wait till I'm out of range so the cop doesn't see me do it).

Fuck them and their revenue raising bullshit. Never around when you need them and fining you for doing 50 in a 35. Who cares??!

Yes, I'm one of these guys that does a minimum of 75 on the highway and you'd better get the fvck out of my way if you're in the left lane doing 55.

 

[zsdersw]

What he really wanted to say was it interfered with revenue generation for the state.

This. Speed traps, to say nothing about the arbitrary speed limits we have in place across most of the country, are entirely about revenue and absolutely nothing about safety.

Police tend to sit in speed traps at the stupidest times, too. Middle of a warm sunny day with light traffic? What a waste of police time, resources, and most of all taxpayer money.

 

[JockoJohnson]

i always flash my lights if someone doesnt have their lights on. Will I get in trouble now?

^This. Thought police, anyone?

I'm old school and I ALWAYS flash my lights to warn drivers of a speed trap ahead where I can. (But I do wait till I'm out of range so the cop doesn't see me do it).

Fuck them and their revenue raising bullshit. Never around when you need them and fining you for doing 50 in a 35. Who cares??!

Yes, I'm one of these guys that does a minimum of 75 on the highway and you'd better get the fvck out of my way if you're in the left lane doing 55.

^And this most definitely. Yes, the posted speed limit may be 55mph but general rule on major highways is 15 to 20mph over. DON'T BE GOING SLOW IN THE LEFT LANE. I see way too many New Jersey dumbfucks just sitting in the left lane with traffic passing them by in the middle and right lanes. And best of all is passing the signs "Slower traffic Keep Right"

 

[ShawnD1]

I help stimulate the economy by getting the best radar detector money can buy.

Does it say it's made in china?

 

[xj0hnx]

^This. Thought police, anyone?



^And this most definitely. Yes, the posted speed limit may be 55mph but general rule on major highways is 15 to 20mph over. DON'T BE GOING SLOW IN THE LEFT LANE. I see way too many New Jersey dumbfucks just sitting in the left lane with traffic passing them by in the middle and right lanes. And best of all is passing the signs "Slower traffic Keep Right"

I don't know what has happened to the people down here, maybe it's all the transplants from the last few years, but five years ago the average speed in between cities was about 85-90, last weekend going only 75-80 I wasn't passed by anyone, and passed several clusters of cars until I hit the Louisiana border. Lots of those slow pokes were in the left lane with no intention of moving, acting as if there wasn't another car on the road.