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

[91TTZ]

Originally posted by: MS Dawn

Originally posted by: 91TTZ

Speeding is not a crime. It's a traffic violation.

The citation verbiage I've read says it charges the offender with a crime.

I searched a bit and found a discussion here.

Notice that some of the participants are law enforcement officers. Interesting stuff.

If an officer's word was gospel, there'd be no room in the world for lawyers. Yet there are defense lawyers, prosecutors, and judges, all of which are lawyers.

 

[mrrman]

no idea I do it all the time lol

 

[RKS]

In Ohio according to Wason:

1. Warning oncoming automobiles that they are approaching a radar speed trap does not constitute the offense of obstructing a police officer in the performance of his duties, where no proof is offered that the warned automobiles were speeding prior to the warning.

2. The offense of obstructing a police officer in the performance of his duties requires two elements: The presence of an illegal act which quickens the duty of the policeman to enforce the law; and interference with intent to impede that enforcement.

Didn't check much further to see if everything is still good law nor how it is handled in other states.

 

[Sukhoi]

Hah that thread has a really good idea. Don't flash brights. Turn your lights off and then back on (if it's night) or just turn them on. That eliminates the brights against oncoming traffic citation. Now just obstruction of justice is in question.

Hmm and at night the above could open you up for driving without headlights...

 

[Stuxnet]

Originally posted by: Ronstang

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.

Those are not even comparable and you don't deserve a citation for flashing you headlights. Someone is only speeding if a cop SEES them, yet a cop doesn't have to see someone stealing to arrest him. If you tip people off to slow down are you not achieving the same goal as the cops? Remember, cops say they give tickets to slow people down for their own and everyone elses safety so you are merely helping them with their job then.

LOL

I like this guy

 

[thawolfman]

Blah my buddy (CT Trooper) has no cell service - I'll get back to you guys on this

 

[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.

 

[ballmode]

I usually flash people who have their lights off driving in the evenings

 

[uberman]

Originally posted by: MS Dawn

Originally posted by: 91TTZ

Speeding is not a crime. It's a traffic violation.

The citation verbiage I've read says it charges the offender with a crime.

I searched a bit and found a discussion here.

Notice that some of the participants are law enforcement officers. Interesting stuff.

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?


[/quote]


What does that have to do with this topic?[/quote]
You have stated that someone guilty of a traffic infraction is a "criminal." I don't think you understand the meaning of the word "criminal." I further believe that you are totally ignorant of traffic management and or traffic engineering. Please enlighten me.

 

[uberman]

Please enlighten me as to your knowledge of transportation engineering standards. I welcome your coments on to how speeding impacts safety on our roadways.

 

[thehstrybean]

Originally posted by: everman
You'll get egged.

LoL @ everman...


It's illegal, I do believe, but I don't know of anyone who's gotten a ticket for it...

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Originally posted by: uberman
Please enlighten me as to your knowledge of transportation engineering standards. I welcome your coments on to how speeding impacts safety on our roadways.

I welcome your commentary and further thesis on how speeding impacts the migration patterns of swallows.



As far as that goes - in Canada, they'll ding you for improper use of highbeams.

"No Officer, I was alerting the vehicle in front of me that I was about to pass."
"No Officer, I was attempting to engage my turn signal and sneezed."
"No Officer, I was under the impression that my high beams were on, and attempted to turn them off. When I realized my error, I switched them off."

#3 only works if your car has toggle-switched beams, and #2 makes a good excuse for a bit of wheelspin on a hard shift with subst "signal" "clutch"

- M4H

 

[uberman]

Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire

Originally posted by: uberman
Please enlighten me as to your knowledge of transportation engineering standards. I welcome your coments on to how speeding impacts safety on our roadways.

I welcome your commentary and further thesis on how speeding impacts the migration patterns of swallows.



As far as that goes - in Canada, they'll ding you for improper use of highbeams.

"No Officer, I was alerting the vehicle in front of me that I was about to pass."
"No Officer, I was attempting to engage my turn signal and sneezed."
"No Officer, I was under the impression that my high beams were on, and attempted to turn them off. When I realized my error, I switched them off."

#3 only works if your car has toggle-switched beams, and #2 makes a good excuse for a bit of wheelspin on a hard shift with subst "signal" "clutch"

- M4H

Thank you. That's the first time I've seen this tecnique used. It was either in Ontario or Quebec in 1979. For me it was a brand new experience, and I've been uncertain whether drivers understand it in the states. Did you mean African or European swallows?
BTW, I like your excuses, no I love them, I'm crackin' up.

 

[spidey07]

Ticket would probably be improper use of high beams.

If you want to warn them then just turn your lights on and off a few times.

 

[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.

 

[uberman]

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.

I've seen it done, so based on observational learning I also do it as a courtesy. We are social animals and many of us have empathy for each other. I am concerned that our warnings, "Flash your lights," are not understood.

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Originally posted by: uberman
Thank you. That's the first time I've seen this tecnique used. It was either in Ontario or Quebec in 1979. For me it was a brand new experience, and I've been uncertain whether drivers understand it in the states.
BTW, I like your excuses, no I love them, I'm crackin' up.

Do you have vehicular conversations with truckers as well?

- M4H

 

[Sukhoi]

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.

Oh like they aren't going to know what's going on. I knew about it before I even started driving.

 

[Cattlegod]

Originally posted by: monk3y
Don't think there can be a penalty for that. I mean you can just say you were adjusting your lights or something. They have no way of proving intent.

agreed.

you just have to be not retarded and say you weren't doing it because of a cop.

 

[OrganizedChaos]

here in mass the cop will pull you over and ask if you flashed your highbeams.

if you say yes your cited for improper use of highbeems (law say can't use them within 150ft of an oncoming car)

if you say no your cited for defective equipment

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: Sukhoi

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.

Oh like they aren't going to know what's going on. I knew about it before I even started driving.

It could mean a few things.
1. They think your highbeams are on, or your lights are off.
2. There are deer near the road
3. There is a cop

Usually when someone flashes their highbeams at me I check my lights, then slow down and look around, and 95% of the time I never see any cops or deer. So I'm left wondering why the hell some guy flashed his lights at me.

I only flash for deer.

 

[Ronstang]

Originally posted by: OrganizedChaos
here in mass the cop will pull you over and ask if you flashed your highbeams.

if you say yes your cited for improper use of highbeems (law say can't use them within 150ft of an oncoming car)

if you say no your cited for defective equipment

And you expect any different in Massachusetts? That state is going to get your money any way they can.....and as much of it as possible.

 

[jagec]

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.

Since when do you have to sign tickets? This is news to me.
Yeah, I don't think there's an official penalty for flashing your lights, but there are numerous smaller penalties that they can cite you for if they really feel like it. Things like a broken taillight, no trash bag in the car (at least in WA), "improper signalling", etc.

Originally posted by: MS Dawn
We know who all the speeders are in this thread!

Yes, everyone who drives a car.

The real question is who the reckless speeders are...the ones going much faster than the flow of traffic.

85th percentile is 5-8MPH over the limit, on most roads...and that's the safest speed you can go.

 

[sindows]

I doubt theres any penalty. Just say that you're flashing your lights to see the road better. As far as I'm concerned, there are tons of small/medium animals that wonder the roads at night and I would rather not be hitting them...

 

[GeekDrew]

Originally posted by: spidey07
Ticket would probably be improper use of high beams.

If you want to warn them then just turn your lights on and off a few times.

Then they can ticket you for not having your lights on after dusk. At least in Ohio.

I personally flash my auxiliary (aka fog) lights. I can't be ticketed for improper use of high-beams, nor for failing to use headlights after dusk. It's also substantially harder for anyone behind the vehicle to see that happen, whereas it is easily visible for anyone in front of the vehicle to see it happen.

Originally posted by: uberman

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.

I've seen it done, so based on observational learning I also do it as a courtesy. We are social animals and many of us have empathy for each other. I am concerned that our warnings, "Flash your lights," are not understood.

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.