Flashing headlights - Free Speech

[AdamZ]

Originally Posted by strych9

To be clear, I am not your girlfriend.

Ah yes, just saying this convo was like the same conversations I have with the GF lol. Not that you are like my girlfriend

[DarkFox1]

Reminding a driver to drive safely with the universal symbol for "slow down" is not a crime.

if there happens to be a cop around the corner.. then MAYBE it will save the other driver a ticket.. who knows.

[AdamZ]

Originally Posted by DarkFox1

Reminding a driver to drive safely with the universal symbol for "slow down" is not a crime.

if there happens to be a cop around the corner.. then MAYBE it will save the other driver a ticket.. who knows.

[DarkFox1]

you disagree? Let me ask you lets say you're driving down the road when someone flashes you.. what do you do? You slow down.

Flash someone when there's no cop around.. they still slow down.

Flashing lights doesn't mean "cop" it means "be cautious" or "slow down."

Florida made the right decision.

Now my question about it is where do you draw the line? If flashing lights is protected speech, what about strobes? or neons? There has to be SOMEWHERE to draw the line.

[AdamZ]

Originally Posted by DarkFox1

you disagree? Let me ask you lets say you're driving down the road when someone flashes you.. what do you do? You slow down.

Flash someone when there's no cop around.. they still slow down.

Flashing lights doesn't mean "cop" it means "be cautious" or "slow down."

Florida made the right decision.

Now my question about it is where do you draw the line? If flashing lights is protected speech, what about strobes? or neons? There has to be SOMEWHERE to draw the line.

I don't slow down. I look to see if I accidently turned my brights on.

[CamaroMiami]

I have nothing but respect for the police and those that may warn others to be safe on public roads I'll like to add a little humor to this thread.

[ROBOSSRS]

Originally Posted by DarkFox1

you disagree? Let me ask you lets say you're driving down the road when someone flashes you.. what do you do? You slow down.

Flash someone when there's no cop around.. they still slow down.

Flashing lights doesn't mean "cop" it means "be cautious" or "slow down."

Florida made the right decision.

Now my question about it is where do you draw the line? If flashing lights is protected speech, what about strobes? or neons? There has to be SOMEWHERE to draw the line.

You basically said what I was going to say. When I am on the highway my cruise control is set, not much of a chance of speeding. So flashing headlights could mean a deer is crossing the road , which I have seen or an accident etc. The way some highways are constructed you can flash all you want unless you are driving an eighteen wheeler, no one can see the flashing lights because of the center barrier. It is what it is.

[Edwin320]

If the goal is to get people to slow down, as opposed to catching people speeding, then the people who flash their headlights are helping the police to achieve that goal. As far as the "yelling fire" analogy, it simply doesn't apply, unless you believe that standing on the side of the road with a sign that says "slow down" is illegal.

And I have nothing but respect for the job LEOs perform. I just like to make sure that a person's constitutional rights aren't infringed upon by an individual that may misunderstand the law.

[Edwin320]

Originally Posted by DarkFox1

you disagree? Let me ask you lets say you're driving down the road when someone flashes you.. what do you do? You slow down.

Flash someone when there's no cop around.. they still slow down.

Flashing lights doesn't mean "cop" it means "be cautious" or "slow down."

Florida made the right decision.

Now my question about it is where do you draw the line? If flashing lights is protected speech, what about strobes? or neons? There has to be SOMEWHERE to draw the line.

The Florida case was about manually activating and deactivating your lights, not about activation of a system that automatically flashed or strobes lights.

[PoorMansCamaro]

I know exactly where Adam is coming from. I think flashing your headlights to warn people that are breaking the law...is about as dumb as it gets.

I don't care about deers in the road or whatever else you guys are talking about, but as far as the OP, and flashing people that are speeding, that there is a speed trap ahead is not how you help anyone out. well, except for helping someone breaking the law, get off scott free. The thought that anyone thinks this is a good idea, baffles the heck out of me.

[SimpleGreen]

Around here I've been flashed for accidents around the next corner just as often as cops hiding in the trees. If I'm flashed I check to make sure my highs are on and then start prepping for whats nearby. Could be cops or another problem on the road.

As for obstructing an office, I don't think that qualifies IMO. You never knew the person was speeding if he does in fact slow down, so the flasher didn't really obstruct anything, lol.

But that's my two cents. I've been busted for speeding once before, 59 in a 35. Cop was cool, complimented my truck, gave me a $270 ticket. That's the only ticket I ever received. I've ran red lights with cops behind me, forgot to turn my headlights on at night in a well lit city, been stopped twice in one night by the same cop for no trailer lights, and drove the wrong direction, on purpose, on an interstate on ramp...and received a warning.

So, cops are cool in my book.

Edit: For what it's worth, I don't flash anybody for any reason unless their lights are bright. I had to pay my speeding tickets, you get to pay yours! Be more aware of your surroundings. Shouldn't need others to alert you when your driving.

[AdamZ]

Originally Posted by aSSian

I know exactly where Adam is coming from. I think flashing your headlights to warn people that are breaking the law...is about as dumb as it gets.

I don't care about deers in the road or whatever else you guys are talking about, but as far as the OP, and flashing people that are speeding, that there is a speed trap ahead is not how you help anyone out. well, except for helping someone breaking the law, get off scott free. The thought that anyone thinks this is a good idea, baffles the heck out of me.

[Steve Dallas]

Also, flashing lights can be used for a variety of other things. I had someone flash their brights at me recently, and several deer was in the road about 1/2 mile further on.

It used to be that flashing brights was used to let someone know they hadn't turn off their brights, or to let someone in the left lane know you wished to pass.

Because so many people get their panties in a wad because someone honked or flashed their brights...the state of Washington has made it ILLEGAL to do those things.

You go to other countries, and these things are considered part of driving, and a courtesy.

So putting your hand out the window and making a motion up & down could also be considered "Warning" about a police officer. Sorry...though the law may support AdamZ, I have to be honest...going after a driver for doing that is kind of petty...you should have more important things to worry about. What about CB radio where truck drivers will warn about cops?

Seriously, giving a ticket for this is just plain stupid, IMHO

[PoorMansCamaro]

Originally Posted by Steve Dallas

Also, flashing lights can be used for a variety of other things. I had someone flash their brights at me recently, and several deer was in the road about 1/2 mile further on.

It used to be that flashing brights was used to let someone know they hadn't turn off their brights, or to let someone in the left lane know you wished to pass.

Because so many people get their panties in a wad because someone honked or flashed their brights...the state of Washington has made it ILLEGAL to do those things.

You go to other countries, and these things are considered part of driving, and a courtesy.

So putting your hand out the window and making a motion up & down could also be considered "Warning" about a police officer. Sorry...though the law may support AdamZ, I have to be honest...going after a driver for doing that is kind of petty...you should have more important things to worry about. What about CB radio where truck drivers will warn about cops?

Seriously, giving a ticket for this is just plain stupid, IMHO

i agree 100% about using your horn or your lights to warn people of deers in the road, and accident coming up, or someone leaving their high beams on or not have their lights on, but the main focus of this thread (The OP), is people knowing full well, that they are flashing solely because there is a speed trap ahead for oncoming traffic.

edit: should those people that are warning other drivers of a speed trap get a ticket? That's a tough one, but i think it's pretty stupid of them to be warning other drivers in the first place.