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Flashing Head Lights = ticket?

drobsdrobs Member Posts: 22,620 ✭✭✭✭
edited August 2003 in General Discussion
Flashing your headlights may get you a ticket

UPDATED: Wednesday, August 20, 2003 10:56:22 PM

CLEVELAND -- Motorists who flash their lights to warn drivers of a speed trap may get a ticket.

It's against the law to flash a car's headlights without a legitimate reason. Cleveland police wrote over 500 tickets in the last year for what's known as a "high beam" violation.


"Basically they are obstructing our duty and our job to enforce the law," said Lieutenant Robert Stitt with CPD Traffic Enforcement.


The fine for the violation is about $70.


Police say they don't specifically watch for light flashers but will cite them when they see them.




Regards,
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Comments

  • trooperchintrooperchin Member Posts: 2,632 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Yup, that illegal in Maryland.

    d852d797.jpg

    Go Army Beat Navy
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  • IconoclastIconoclast Member Posts: 10,515 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    For some reason, the police don't like to have their speed traps advertised . . . .
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  • BOBBYWINSBOBBYWINS Member Posts: 7,810
    edited November -1
    Can't do it in Texas either.
    Course, I wouldn't anyway just to protect
    someone else.Remember,I'm the CRIMINAL
    that sometimes forgets to buckle up.[}:)][}:)]

    IT'S WHAT PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT THEMSELVES THAT MAKES THEM AFRAID.
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  • jjmitchell60jjmitchell60 Member Posts: 3,887
    edited November -1
    Illegal in KY as well![:(!]
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  • outdoortexasoutdoortexas Member Posts: 4,780
    edited November -1
    BW, criminal? [:D]
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  • 625625 Member Posts: 125 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Sorta like warning the shoplifter that store security is coming, don't ya think? Consider what your insurance would cost if "speeding" wasn't an issue.........

    It's obviously a case of "drive as you see fit", but riding an ambulance for the last 12 years, almost has me wishing for involuntary speed controls from the factory. Not gonna argue, but excessive speed DOES kill.... and unbuckled restraint systems DO kill. Ride with me a few days, and I'll prove it to you.

    "For those who fought for it, freedom has a flavor the protected will never know."

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  • mark christianmark christian Member Posts: 24,443 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I would have to agree with 625; this has to be a loss of revenue issue. Otherwise I'd like to know how it can be illegal to aid police in PREVENTING a crime or traffic violation from occuring? If you warn another driver of a police presence nearby and he slows down you have just stopped a violation from happening and this should be a good thing-- unless money is lost!

    Mark T. Christian
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  • BlueTicBlueTic Member Posts: 4,072
    edited November -1
    Good reply Mark - My idea is - if you are STUPID enough to get caught flashing - you deserve a ticket. I will not admit to flashing my headlights - but I sure as hell would not do it where they can observe.....

    IF YOU DON'T LIKE MY RIGHTS - GET OUT OF MY COUNTRY (this includes politicians)
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  • AlpineAlpine Member Posts: 15,092 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Flashing my lights? I didn't flash my lights. I must have a short in my electrial system. Thank you, Officer for letting me know I have an electrial problem with my vehicle. I will have my local friend and mechanic come to court and testify a mechinical problem existed, rebutting your alligation that I was attempting to disclose police presense in the area. Will there be anything else, Officer?

    "If you ain't got pictures, I wasn't there."
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  • Horse Plains DrifterHorse Plains Drifter Forums Admins, Member, Moderator Posts: 40,237 ***** Forums Admin
    edited November -1
    Oh? A short in your electrical system Mr. Alpine? That's "Deffective Equipment" That'll be a $66.00 ticket.[:D][:D]

    81st FA BN WWII...Thanks Dad
    U!S!A! ALL THE WAY!!
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  • ruger270manruger270man Member Posts: 9,361 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    screw cops, if theyre gonna pull you over for that crap, theyre a bunch of sons of ya know ya know

    ________________
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  • Nomad00Nomad00 Member Posts: 306 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I know it's illegal in NJ[:(!]. I haven't been pulled over for it in PA yet.

    420
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  • ElMuertoMonkeyElMuertoMonkey Member Posts: 12,898
    edited November -1
    I often flash my lights as a courtesy whenever truckers pull over or slow down to let me pass. Blinking the tail lights is just a way to say, "Thanks." And as I don't like tapping my brake pedal, I usually just flash my lights.

    Maybe I'll stop that habit now and just put some more wear on my brakes...
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  • gskyhawkgskyhawk Member Posts: 4,773
    edited November -1
    and then cops wonder why people dislike them[xx(] funny most cops I know around here are some of the worst drivers , don't use turn signals, roll thru stops, speed ....
    one time a few years ago after going thru a DOT check I was leaving and was behind one of their cars that happen to pull out in front of me , he rolled thru 2 stops and never used his turn signal in making 3 turns and guess where he pulled into !!!!! Mc Donald's
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  • trooperchintrooperchin Member Posts: 2,632 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I thought all Cops speed. Isnt it just a perk of the job?

    d852d797.jpg

    Go Army Beat Navy
    IF you wanna have fun join the cavalry
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  • longhunterlonghunter Member Posts: 3,242
    edited November -1
    [:D][:D][:D]
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  • TxsTxs Member Posts: 17,809 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    In Texas you wouldn't be guilty of hindering apprehension, which is actually a criminal charge. Under this statute it's a defense to prosecution if you're warning someone of an LEO's presence "with the intent of bringing them into compliance with the law".

    It would be creative use of the traffic code, but about the only thing you could be charged with is displaying a flashing white light to the front of your vehicle. If it were at night you might be written for driving without lights if you're flashing on/off, but again it would be stretching things a bit.

    In either case it'd be pretty chicken s***. I've been in the LEO business for many years and I've never seen anyone filed on in my part of the country for flashing their lights as a warning.
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  • BuckShotJonBuckShotJon Member Posts: 235 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Its called Obstructing Governmental Administration in New York. I know of a person who was ticketed for it. He ended up paying a hefty fine for it $250 and 32 hours of community service.

    Have warned people? You bet when I felt the "trap" was just that a money sucking trap. (btw- it was so long ago that I did this that the statue of limitations has clearly run on on prosecuting this [;)] ) .

    Speeding tickets IMO are used as just another form of collecting taxes. I have never been fond of speeding tickets and the reason they are wrote. I think its one thing to ticket a guy going 65 in a 55 and a guy going 115 in a 55. Who is the danger? Who should be ticketed? I find no recourse in the standard answer most folks give " Well its the law" for a petty over the speed limit violation. The " Well its the law" is a canned response and limits that are force fed among us. I know I never voted for speed limits.

    In our very small town in Upstate NY the locals pay for half the village taxes based upon stopping out of state truckers for speeding and then a whole slew of tickets for equipment violations. Its really sickening to see the abuse of power in this fashion especially when drug dealing is happening on the corner down the road?

    So why are V&T tickets wrote to the truckers? = they are working citizens who will pay and most of the time the corporation that backs the rig pays the equipment violation simply by sending in the money and never appearing in court. Its a slam dunk for revenue generation

    I say all this being past LEO myself and still having friends in the industry.

    Jon
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  • askani88askani88 Member Posts: 94 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    In Midland TX we use the peace sign as a warning.
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  • daddodaddo Member Posts: 3,408
    edited November -1
    Mark- By flashing your lights, you are not preventing a violation as the violation is already occuring. Speed limits are not just there when an leo is around. If there weren't any speed limits, I'd hate to be on the road because it's obvious some people can't regulate themselves and are total idiots. I agree that doing 60 in a 55 is no big thing and they should go after the 70 in a 55 instead. I choose to go the limit so I can sit back an enjoy the ride. For example- If your making a 10 mile tripp at 55,you will get there in 9.2 minutes. The same 10 mile trip will take you 11.6 minutes. The difference of 2.4 minutes doesn't constitute (to me) a $50.00- $70.00 ticket and a mark on my insurance record. Do the math. I find going with the flow much easier and makes the trip much less a Job. IMHO [|)]
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  • daddodaddo Member Posts: 3,408
    edited November -1
    Correction- "the same trip at (70 mph) will take 8.6 minutes"
    "at 55 mph= 11.1 minutes" the difference of 2.5 minutes.
    ***Gotta fix this calculater (or operator)!
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  • madmarc0madmarc0 Member Posts: 862 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Usually I'm flashing my lights to pass! You know, I'm a Boston driver anything under 90mph and flash flash. Dontya just hate those slow pokes just meandering along at 70mph! This is not Sunday! Lets go!
    What's a spped trap? must be a southern thing, the State police are passing me and I'm doing 80mph all the time.

    Never heard of that law, I will have to ask next time.

    Ted Kennedy's car has killed more people than my gun has!
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