Flashing Lights Illegal?

[SubGod22]

Taking Liberties: Bright Lights, Big Trouble

Erich Campbell thought he was being helpful. The Florida Highway patrolman thought he was being obnoxious and disrespectful and gave him a $101 fine.

“I couldn’t believe it,” said Campbell as he paced next to Veterans Highway in Tampa, Fla.

“I was in complete disbelief.”

Campbell’s crime?

He flashed his headlights to alert oncoming cars after passing that patrolman’s speed trap.

“It’s something I do,” he explained. "I don’t think it should be against the law."

In December 2009, the patrolman was set up on the southbound side of Route 589 near the Tampa International Airport. In a recording of the stop, the officer told Campbell he had seen his lights flashing. “It’s illegal,” he said before giving him a ticket that read “improper flashing of high-beams.”

Campbell eventually got the ticket dismissed, but he recently filed a class-action lawsuit against the state over writing similar citations.

I'd never even thought about it being illegal as it's a pretty common practice. People also do it to warn of deer or other things along the road.

[Shox151]

My thought on this is, that if they police are concerned about safety or people slowing down, then flashing lights to tell people of the trap serves the same purpose as writing a ticket.

[martymoose]

Re: Flashing Lights Illegal?

Taking Liberties: Bright Lights, Big Trouble

Erich Campbell thought he was being helpful. The Florida Highway patrolman thought he was being obnoxious and disrespectful and gave him a $101 fine.

“I couldn’t believe it,” said Campbell as he paced next to Veterans Highway in Tampa, Fla.

“I was in complete disbelief.”

Campbell’s crime?

He flashed his headlights to alert oncoming cars after passing that patrolman’s speed trap.

“It’s something I do,” he explained. "I don’t think it should be against the law."

In December 2009, the patrolman was set up on the southbound side of Route 589 near the Tampa International Airport. In a recording of the stop, the officer told Campbell he had seen his lights flashing. “It’s illegal,” he said before giving him a ticket that read “improper flashing of high-beams.”

Campbell eventually got the ticket dismissed, but he recently filed a class-action lawsuit against the state over writing similar citations.

I'd never even thought about it being illegal as it's a pretty common practice. People also do it to warn of deer or other things along the road.

I've heard of people getting tickets for that before. I think it's pretty common if a cop sees you do it, you'll get a ticket.

[SubGod22]

I'd never heard of it before. Apparently it's more common than I ever would have guessed.

[RoyalShock]

My thought on this is, that if they police are concerned about safety or people slowing down, then flashing lights to tell people of the trap serves the same purpose as writing a ticket.

That's a very big if.

What's odd, is that many departments will publish their radar locations. But I guess communicating an officer's location is only legal if they do it. :wacko:

[martymoose]

My thought on this is, that if they police are concerned about safety or people slowing down, then flashing lights to tell people of the trap serves the same purpose as writing a ticket.

That's a very big if.

What's odd, is that many departments will publish their radar locations. But I guess communicating an officer's location is only legal if they do it. :wacko:

I think the deal is using your lights improperly...can be considered a distraction to drivers....especially at night.

[engrshock]

Re: Flashing Lights Illegal?

[/quote]I'd never even thought about it being illegal as it's a pretty common practice. People also do it to warn of deer or other things along the road.[/quote]

Yes I flashed my headlights the other day because their were two people walking down paved road with dark clothes on and I only saw them when I was pretty close. Luckily they were on the opposite side of the road. I flashed my lights at an on-coming car to try and alert the driver that he was coming up to something.

[1979Shocker]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Headlight_flashing

[Kung Wu]

My headlights flash whenever I hit a bump, because the duct tape is losing its grip a little. Oh they also dim a little when I plug the microwave into the lighter adapter and cook me some popcorn.

[DUShock]

I took the GRE not the LSAT so I'll defer to our learned barristers for comment.

[MoValley John]

My headlights flash whenever I hit a bump, because the duct tape is losing its grip a little. Oh they also dim a little when I plug the microwave into the lighter adapter and cook me some popcorn.

I have a similar problem, except my duct tape is in great shape. My alternator went bad on me and I keep eight batteries wired up in the back seat. Sometimes my kids lean up against a battery post and the shock and Sparks dims the headlights. It smells awful when that happens, almost as bad as my brakes do. At least they quit grinding. It takes a little longer to stop but I have an old tire tied to the front bumper just in case.