What's the penalty if caught flashing high-beams to warn about a speed trap?

[ch33zw1z]

This is indeed illegal, and police issue tickets for it...as well as get really pissed. I don't recommend doing this is cops can still see ya.

 

[Stuxnet]

Originally posted by: MS Dawn

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919

MS Dawn isn't female

First it was Goosemaster now you. Just because I may not come off like a woman on the forums doesn't mean I'm not female. Get over it already.

It's no wonder most of the women on this forum decide to leave. Really it is.

If it makes you feel better, I was wholly convinced of your gender when I read your logic in this thread.

 

[j00fek]

never herd of it being a violation.....

 

[uberman]

Originally posted by: MS Dawn

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919

MS Dawn isn't female

First it was Goosemaster now you. Just because I may not come off like a woman on the forums doesn't mean I'm not female. Get over it already.

It's no wonder most of the women on this forum decide to leave. Really it is.

I'm concerned about speeding in the Bahamas. James Bond could have been killed by that woman driving the mustang in Thunderball. They were driving at least 100 mies per hour. Even James Bond was nervous. Do women in the Bahamas normally drive that fast much of the time?

 

[uberman]

Originally posted by: MS Dawn

Never had a problem with "the law".

Honestly it's probably a good thing I don't drive in that regard. I probably would be a speeder. :Q

Probably because you live in the Bahamas. That woman driving in Thunderball would have been pulled over and cited anywhere else.

 

[Spacehead]

Originally posted by: GeekDrew
In the driver's ed class that I was required to take, we were instructed to flash our lights to warn oncoming traffic of any hazardous situation. "Hazardous" was left open for interpretation. Situations that I flash lights for are deer/animals, SMV / Farm Equipment, broken down vehicles/accidents, and certain situations involving law enforcement. I wish more people would pay attention when others flash their lights at them.

I do the same. There are a lot of situations where this is a safety warning, not just speeding. I also flash to let truckers know they're clear of me when the pass. I doubt i learned it in drivers ed, but it's just one of those things i grew up knowing.


There was a "Dateline" type TV show a few years ago i saw where this issue of warning others about speedtraps came up. Some one had flashed their lights & somehow the cop saw them & cited them. It was taken to court but i don't remember for sure the outcome or which state it was in. The TV show made it sound like this was going to be some precedent sending case... apparently it wasn't.

 

[loic2003]

I read a story of a guy who was busted to making a sign and elaving it down the road... that was in the UK though.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: Perknose

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Why do it at all? What possible benefit is it to you? Flash your lights at people who may or may not be speeding? Or have a clue at all why you're flashing your lights at them? :roll: Don't be a dumbass.

Fortunately I live in an area with a community of educated drivers who warn each other and know what the warning means. I'd say YOU'RE the dumbass, dumbass, and ignorantly selfish to boot.

Oh like you give a rat's ass about anyone but yourself. Hypocrite.

The only time I will flash my lights on and off is to signal a truck that it's safe for him to change lanes in front of me. I do this quite a bit but that's the only time I flash my lights for others.

Why I should risk getting a ticket for someone else is beyond me though.

 

[allisolm]

Originally posted by: Ronstang
I do it all the time. Good luck to the cop that tries to give me a ticket for doing so. I won't sign the ticket. He will have to arrest me and with an arrest comes a lot of paperwork. Most cops would be too lazy to take you in on something so stupid.

:laugh:
Yup. Don't sign the ticket.
They arrest you and now you get to post bail.
Cha-ching!
Then you get to go on your way - after you pay to get your car which was impounded and towed when you were arrested.
Cha-ching!
Then you get to go to court for the criminal offense of speeding plus whatever they tack on for not signing (I don't know what the arrest charge is for not signing.)
Cha-ching!
Even if you prevail on the speeding, you're out many dollars.
Yup. Not signing the ticket - that'll show 'em!
:laugh:

 

[AndrewR]

Originally posted by: 91TTZ
Let's face it: most speed traps are simply revenue generators- nothing more, nothing less.

I have friends that are officers and not even they agree with the laws. But the decision isn't up to them, it's the municipality and the police chief which is in charge of that.

Most but not all (of course, if it's not a revenue generator, is it a speedtrap?). We live parallel to a very busy secondary road (speed limit: 45MPH) that people speed on ALL the time. Air Force Security Forces patrol is quite frequently and are always pulling people over, but I have no idea how the ticketing works for civilians caught by them.

Anyway, the local police from Riverside Township also patrol it and pull people over regularly. In this case, however, this is a serious safety issue as we have personally witnessed two car accidents and two dogs killed within 100 yards of our townhouse in the last 14 months or so. Keep in mind those are the ones we've seen.

I don't flash my lights on that road because I want the idiots to get caught.

 

[Tom]

Originally posted by: Ronstang

Originally posted by: MS Dawn
Why don't you ask an officer and get their input on this?

Why? I don't care that much about the issue. I only tip people off to speed traps during the daytime when I can see who I am warning. It is not like a cop is going to see me. If one did and tried to cite me they would have to arrest me as I WOULD NOT sign the ticket.

Where did you get this idea that they are going to mind arresting you ?

 

[AMCRambler]

I don't flash my high beams because 1. that's illegal(failure to dim, not warning of a speed trap) and 2. I don't need the idiot flashing his brights back at me because he thinks I'm flashing him to tell him his high beams are on when they aren't. Instead I usually just blink my fog lights at them. I can turn the foglights off an on without messing with my headlights at all and it's much more subtle. If a cop even thought I was warning of the speed trap a simple explanation of accidentally hitting the switch would easily pass muster.

 

[waggy]

i guess it would depend on where you live. i live in a farming community. everyone flashes for either cops, animals, farm equipment etc.. hell i was flashed by a county sheriff because there was a semi truck pulling into a farm on a blind hill.


i would be shocked to get a ticket for it. i would also fight it in court over it.

 

[Turin39789]

I believe the penalty is good karma. I've done this for 5 years and never had a problem

 

[xgsound]

I've always thought flashing your lights meant "use caution ahead" regardless of the reason. I should think it is a good idea to use caution if the police have someone pulled over or not for a speed trap. I'm sure we've all seen the videos where the police have someone pulled over and a vehicle wrecks into all of them.

I say flash your lights every time and if you get a ticket, so be it. It's a little safer for everyone. You can still fight it if you want to, but I think the larger issue is it's safer for everyone.


Jim

 

[Perknose]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: Perknose

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Why do it at all? What possible benefit is it to you? Flash your lights at people who may or may not be speeding? Or have a clue at all why you're flashing your lights at them? :roll: Don't be a dumbass.

Fortunately I live in an area with a community of educated drivers who warn each other and know what the warning means. I'd say YOU'RE the dumbass, dumbass, and ignorantly selfish to boot.

Oh like you give a rat's ass about anyone but yourself. Hypocrite.

The only time I will flash my lights on and off is to signal a truck that it's safe for him to change lanes in front of me. I do this quite a bit but that's the only time I flash my lights for others.

Why I should risk getting a ticket for someone else is beyond me though.

^^^^^Asshole running his ignorant mouth true to form.

Didn't learn ANYTHING from the many outraged responses to your ignorant first post, did you, punk?

 

[Sukhoi]

Originally posted by: DainBramaged
Personally, I would just say that I thought the guys brights were on. After I flashed, I realized that they weren't. <shrug>

Definitely a good excuse for at night.

 

[manlymatt83]

I got caught once... the cop yelled at me but let me go

 

[Vic]

Originally posted by: Sukhoi
I realize this is going to vary by location, but in general is it even illegal? I like to do it as a courtesy, but I'm always worried about missing seeing a cop in the oncoming traffic.

The only penalty in my state is a small(ish) fine because it is infraction to fail to dim your high-beams within 300 feet of another vehicle. Otherwise, it is not illegal to warn others of speed traps (how could it be?) and the advisable course of action (as others here have noted) is to flash your lights on and off.

Originally posted by: MS Dawn
That's like tipping a criminal off to avoid the police? Yes if caught someone should get a citation for it.

You are confused if you think that this is comparable to obstruction of justice. And speeding is not a crime, it is an infraction. There is a distinct legal difference.

 

[fire400]

Originally posted by: Cdubneeddeal
OP, why don't you try it and report back

rofl

 

[randay]

Its probably not illegal, and it definately isnt smart. Personally I wouldn't want to piss off some jackass speedtrapping cops.

 

[wheresmybacon]

Originally posted by: uberman

Originally posted by: MS Dawn
Speeding is a crime. If you get caught you pay for it. It's funny how people will do things to circument getting caught whether it's painting their plates to avoid cameras at intersections, radar detectors, cb radios, etc.

We know who all the speeders are in this thread!

I'm concerned as to what your knowledge is of transportation engineering and standards. That's where I've worked. I believe you used the word "criminal." Is a jaywalker a "criminal," who needs to be ostracized by society?

like speeders, jaywalkers should be killed. they are the downfall of society as we know it

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: Perknose

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: Perknose

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Why do it at all? What possible benefit is it to you? Flash your lights at people who may or may not be speeding? Or have a clue at all why you're flashing your lights at them? :roll: Don't be a dumbass.

Fortunately I live in an area with a community of educated drivers who warn each other and know what the warning means. I'd say YOU'RE the dumbass, dumbass, and ignorantly selfish to boot.

Oh like you give a rat's ass about anyone but yourself. Hypocrite.

The only time I will flash my lights on and off is to signal a truck that it's safe for him to change lanes in front of me. I do this quite a bit but that's the only time I flash my lights for others.

Why I should risk getting a ticket for someone else is beyond me though.

^^^^^Asshole running his ignorant mouth true to form.

Didn't learn ANYTHING from the many outraged responses to your ignorant first post, did you, punk?

Hey, it's my opinion. Don't like it? Tough sh!t.

God, you're the biggest tool I've ever had the misfortune of dealing with on these boards.

 

[Perknose]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: Perknose

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: Perknose

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Why do it at all? What possible benefit is it to you? Flash your lights at people who may or may not be speeding? Or have a clue at all why you're flashing your lights at them? :roll: Don't be a dumbass.

Fortunately I live in an area with a community of educated drivers who warn each other and know what the warning means. I'd say YOU'RE the dumbass, dumbass, and ignorantly selfish to boot.

Oh like you give a rat's ass about anyone but yourself. Hypocrite.

The only time I will flash my lights on and off is to signal a truck that it's safe for him to change lanes in front of me. I do this quite a bit but that's the only time I flash my lights for others.

Why I should risk getting a ticket for someone else is beyond me though.

^^^^^Asshole running his ignorant mouth true to form.

Didn't learn ANYTHING from the many outraged responses to your ignorant first post, did you, punk?

Hey, it's my opinion. Don't like it? Tough sh!t.

God, you're the biggest tool I've ever had the misfortune of dealing with on these boards.

^^^^^^^Confirms status.

Hey, Chief, here's a tip. Go read your original post, I've even helpfully quoted it above.

Then read the wide range of subsequent posters all tearing you a new one while they highlight huge flaws in both you and what passes for your "logic"..

Jules, we, as a community, are trying to help you. :heart:

Tragically, you're still the weak link in that big 'ol chain of love, Maximus.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: Perknose

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: Perknose

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: Perknose

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Why do it at all? What possible benefit is it to you? Flash your lights at people who may or may not be speeding? Or have a clue at all why you're flashing your lights at them? :roll: Don't be a dumbass.

Fortunately I live in an area with a community of educated drivers who warn each other and know what the warning means. I'd say YOU'RE the dumbass, dumbass, and ignorantly selfish to boot.

Oh like you give a rat's ass about anyone but yourself. Hypocrite.

The only time I will flash my lights on and off is to signal a truck that it's safe for him to change lanes in front of me. I do this quite a bit but that's the only time I flash my lights for others.

Why I should risk getting a ticket for someone else is beyond me though.

^^^^^Asshole running his ignorant mouth true to form.

Didn't learn ANYTHING from the many outraged responses to your ignorant first post, did you, punk?

Hey, it's my opinion. Don't like it? Tough sh!t.

God, you're the biggest tool I've ever had the misfortune of dealing with on these boards.

^^^^^^^Confirms status.

Hey, Chief, here's a tip. Go read your original post, I've even helpfully quoted it above.

Then read the wide range of subsequent posters all tearing you a new one while they highlight huge flaws in both you and what passes for your "logic"..

Jules, we, as a community, are trying to help you. :heart:

Tragically, you're still the weak link in that big 'ol chain of love, Maximus.

Maybe in the rest of the country where you encounter a car every minute or so this is an issue. Don't blame me for having a lack of a sense of community as far as this is concerned. I encounter cars every second everytime I get behind the wheel 24/7. I live in SoCal, where you can get shot for flashing your lights at someone so please spare me your "we are a community" speach.

Most of the crap I see people do in cars makes me want to hurt them, not help them.

But I still love ATOT, even if I don't agree with some of you.