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Posted: 8/12/2007 4:04:03 PM EDT
I was out on the highway, and after seeing a traffic cop on the other side of the road I saw some other drivers behind me flashing the oncoming drivers...

I've flashed my lights to alert drivers to speed traps before, but how do you guys feel about this practice?  Courtesy, or no good?
Link Posted: 8/12/2007 4:12:21 PM EDT
[#1]
As long as I can do it, without the cop that I just went by, seeing my taillights.





Link Posted: 8/12/2007 4:37:57 PM EDT
[#2]

Quoted:
Its illegal AFAIK.


Freedom of speech, its been to court.
Link Posted: 8/12/2007 4:39:41 PM EDT
[#3]
ok thats 2 illegals and one free speech, anyone know the actual charge?  

eta what was the case that was in court acidgambit?
Link Posted: 8/12/2007 4:40:10 PM EDT
[#4]
How would it be illegal?
Link Posted: 8/12/2007 4:41:12 PM EDT
[#5]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Oh rainman reminds me, is there something they can charge you with if they see you flashing lights at other drivers?


Yes, and I hope the asshat doing 90+ doesn't drive you off the road and injure your family members.




What a dumbass thing to say.
Link Posted: 8/12/2007 4:41:56 PM EDT
[#6]
Link Posted: 8/12/2007 4:42:45 PM EDT
[#7]

Quoted:
As long as I can do it, without the cop that I just went by, seeing my taillights.







just click back your lever like you are turning on your brights. I don't recall any of my cars tail lights illuminating using this pratice
Link Posted: 8/12/2007 4:44:00 PM EDT
[#8]
Link Posted: 8/12/2007 4:44:18 PM EDT
[#9]
Daytime gets you stopped and questioned as to the nature of the emergency you are signalling...oh there isn't one? Nightime gets you a failure to dim for oncoming traffic.
Link Posted: 8/12/2007 4:46:46 PM EDT
[#10]
care to explain p.o.p. o_p?

I don getit
Link Posted: 8/12/2007 4:47:14 PM EDT
[#11]

Quoted:

Quoted:

Quoted:

Quoted:
Oh rainman reminds me, is there something they can charge you with if they see you flashing lights at other drivers?


Yes, and I hope the asshat doing 90+ doesn't drive you off the road and injure your family members.




What a dumbass thing to say.


Not really.

On the way back from Houston last week, an idiot was swerving between cars and almost hit me and others.  He was doing about 100 mph.

Do you think he ought to be warned that he might get a ticket so he can slow down just long enough to pass by the DPS?

I don't.

I was hoping they would catch him  before he killed someone.


Don't let a little thing like facts cloud an otherwise good anti-authority rant. I personally got sick and tired of cleaning up fatal accident scenes. Two things are main contributors: Speed and No Seat Belt.
Link Posted: 8/12/2007 4:49:25 PM EDT
[#12]

Quoted:
Daytime gets you stopped and questioned as to the nature of the emergency you are signalling...oh there isn't one? Nightime gets you a failure to dim for oncoming traffic.


so are you saying I couldn't blink lights at a friend for example, and that forgetting to turn off highbeams at night are offenses?  what are the fines for those 'violations?'

eta: 762, notice I'm not on a rant, I'm more curious about how you all feel about the practice, and what you could actually be charged with...
Link Posted: 8/12/2007 4:50:48 PM EDT
[#13]
At night expect to get a citation for driving with your high beams on or driving without headlights if turn them on and off.
Link Posted: 8/12/2007 4:51:36 PM EDT
[#14]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Daytime gets you stopped and questioned as to the nature of the emergency you are signalling...oh there isn't one? Nightime gets you a failure to dim for oncoming traffic.


so are you saying I couldn't blink lights at a friend for example, and that forgetting to turn off highbeams at night are offenses?  what are the fines for those 'violations?'


#1 daytime no offense just an investigation into a possible emergency situation, I doubt you signal your buddy for a few hundred yards.

#2 about $85.00 here.
Link Posted: 8/12/2007 4:52:24 PM EDT
[#15]
I started this exact thread a few months ago.  I received a profane IM because apparently flashing your brights to warn other drivers is a fucktard move





Anyways, I usually have people flash their brights for me, and I do the same for other drivers.  I view it as common courtesy.
Link Posted: 8/12/2007 4:53:05 PM EDT
[#16]

Quoted:
care to explain p.o.p. o_p?

I don getit


Pissing Off the Police
Link Posted: 8/12/2007 4:53:58 PM EDT
[#17]

Quoted:

Quoted:
care to explain p.o.p. o_p?

I don getit


Pissing Off the Police


Link Posted: 8/12/2007 4:55:36 PM EDT
[#18]
I thought flashing you're headlights meant 1 of 3 possible things.

1) to signal someone it's ok to merge
2) to signal the car in front of you to get the frak over, they are going to damn slow
3) to tell some moron they forgot to turn their headlights on
Link Posted: 8/12/2007 4:57:14 PM EDT
[#19]
Now it's story time.

In the late 80's early 90's, in a small rural county in south AL, a twelve year old girl was kidnapped. Agencies from surrounding counties set up roadblocks on the main roads leading out of the county. Someone who passed through one of these roadblocks were signaling other drivers of the roadblock ahead. The kidnapper saw this and took a dirt road to get out of the county.

He was captured three days later at a motel about three counties away of course by then he had been having fun with her for those three days.
Link Posted: 8/12/2007 4:58:53 PM EDT
[#20]

Quoted:
I thought flashing you're headlights meant 1 of 3 possible things.

1) to signal someone it's ok to merge
2) to signal the car in front of you to get the frak over, they are going to damn slow
3) to tell some moron they forgot to turn their headlights on


Those are all violations if done at night.
Link Posted: 8/12/2007 4:59:15 PM EDT
[#21]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Daytime gets you stopped and questioned as to the nature of the emergency you are signalling...oh there isn't one? Nightime gets you a failure to dim for oncoming traffic.


so are you saying I couldn't blink lights at a friend for example, and that forgetting to turn off highbeams at night are offenses?  what are the fines for those 'violations?'

eta: 762, notice I'm not on a rant, I'm more curious about how you all feel about the practice, and what you could actually be charged with...


No offense, 60 minutes did a story on the "No Snitching" crap the black community is promulgating, this is in the same vein. A great number of wanted persons are caught only because of a vigilant trooper during a traffic stop. Not to mention that the primary focus of road patrols is traffic safety. I HATED writing tickets and would way more often than not let people go. That being said...some people need tickets. You, or anyone else, warning a persistant and dangerous violator is only increasing the chances he will kill/injure somebody down the road..or he is the next Jeffrey Dahmer moving to a new AO.
Link Posted: 8/12/2007 5:01:03 PM EDT
[#22]

Quoted:
Now it's story time.

In the late 80's early 90's, in a small rural county in south AL, a twelve year old girl was kidnapped. Agencies from surrounding counties set up roadblocks on the main roads leading out of the county. Someone who passed through one of these roadblocks were signaling other drivers of the roadblock ahead. The kidnapper saw this and took a dirt road to get out of the county.

He was captured three days later at a motel about three counties away of course by then he had been having fun with her for those three days.



Bama, I believe you have used this example before...enough already.




 Roy
Link Posted: 8/12/2007 5:02:18 PM EDT
[#23]

Quoted:

Quoted:
I thought flashing you're headlights meant 1 of 3 possible things.

1) to signal someone it's ok to merge
2) to signal the car in front of you to get the frak over, they are going to damn slow
3) to tell some moron they forgot to turn their headlights on


Those are all violations if done at night.


Really? I only though number 2 was a violation.
Oh well, I hope it's not a reckless charge like not using your turn signal when changing lanes or slowing down traffic because of a turn.
Link Posted: 8/12/2007 5:02:19 PM EDT
[#24]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Now it's story time.

In the late 80's early 90's, in a small rural county in south AL, a twelve year old girl was kidnapped. Agencies from surrounding counties set up roadblocks on the main roads leading out of the county. Someone who passed through one of these roadblocks were signaling other drivers of the roadblock ahead. The kidnapper saw this and took a dirt road to get out of the county.

He was captured three days later at a motel about three counties away of course by then he had been having fun with her for those three days.



Bama, I believe you have used this example before...enough already.




 Roy


Reality sucks.
Link Posted: 8/12/2007 5:05:29 PM EDT
[#25]

Quoted:

Quoted:

Quoted:

Quoted:
Oh rainman reminds me, is there something they can charge you with if they see you flashing lights at other drivers?


Yes, and I hope the asshat doing 90+ doesn't drive you off the road and injure your family members.




What a dumbass thing to say.


Not really.

On the way back from Houston last week, an idiot was swerving between cars and almost hit me and others.  He was doing about 100 mph.

Do you think he ought to be warned that he might get a ticket so he can slow down just long enough to pass by the DPS?

I don't.

I was hoping they would catch him  before he killed someone.


I think I saw that same guy.  No, wait a minute.  I was in Indiana and this guy was driving a black Crown Vic with some funny decal on the side and red and blue lights on the roof.  Couldn't have been the same guy.
Link Posted: 8/12/2007 5:39:42 PM EDT
[#26]

Quoted:

Quoted:

Quoted:

Quoted:
Oh rainman reminds me, is there something they can charge you with if they see you flashing lights at other drivers?


Yes, and I hope the asshat doing 90+ doesn't drive you off the road and injure your family members.




What a dumbass thing to say.


Not really.




Yes, really.  No one said anything about anyone going 100 or 90mph.  No one said anything about reckless driving.  AND, btw, if you alert someone who IS going too fast for conditions that there are speed traps ahead, they will most likely slow down for some time, not just for a couple minutes.
Link Posted: 8/12/2007 6:04:57 PM EDT
[#27]

Quoted:

Quoted:

Quoted:
Daytime gets you stopped and questioned as to the nature of the emergency you are signalling...oh there isn't one? Nightime gets you a failure to dim for oncoming traffic.


so are you saying I couldn't blink lights at a friend for example, and that forgetting to turn off highbeams at night are offenses?  what are the fines for those 'violations?'

eta: 762, notice I'm not on a rant, I'm more curious about how you all feel about the practice, and what you could actually be charged with...


No offense, 60 minutes did a story on the "No Snitching" crap the black community is promulgating, this is in the same vein. A great number of wanted persons are caught only because of a vigilant trooper during a traffic stop. Not to mention that the primary focus of road patrols is traffic safety. I HATED writing tickets and would way more often than not let people go. That being said...some people need tickets. You, or anyone else, warning a persistant and dangerous violator is only increasing the chances he will kill/injure somebody down the road..or he is the next Jeffrey Dahmer moving to a new AO.


lol I started the thread on the 60 minutes piece... I wouldn't say this is in the same vein as 'stop snitchin'... may be a capillary though

as for bama's example of the petterass not getting caught, I think the odds of that scenario occurring are low enough as to be insignificant...
Link Posted: 8/12/2007 6:13:02 PM EDT
[#28]
My Mother actually got a ticket for this and like a good citizen she paid it.
I told her it was bullshit and went to the library and looked up the charge on the ticket.
She was cited for an "Improper display of emergency flashing lights".

Complete bullshit and she would have handily beat that in court.

1st degree P.O.P or as it is sometimes known, C.O.C.

Colonel Hurtz
Link Posted: 8/12/2007 7:04:31 PM EDT
[#29]
Link Posted: 8/13/2007 4:17:41 AM EDT
[#30]

Quoted:

Quoted:
as for bama's example of the petterass not getting caught, I think the odds of that scenario occurring are low enough as to be insignificant...


Yeah.

As long as it ain't your granddaughter.


Yeah...and we should ban all guns too, "if it saves just one life."  Do it for the children!  
Link Posted: 8/13/2007 4:41:39 AM EDT
[#31]
I don't warn anyone. If I choose to speed and get a ticket, oh well. Warning strangers of Law Enforcement in the area is not my thing. I see the cops as the good guys the overwelming majority of the time.
Link Posted: 8/13/2007 5:22:35 AM EDT
[#32]
Link Posted: 8/13/2007 5:26:34 AM EDT
[#33]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Oh rainman reminds me, is there something they can charge you with if they see you flashing lights at other drivers?


Yes, and I hope the asshat doing 90+ doesn't drive you off the road and injure your family members.



And I hope a meteor doesn't fall from the sky and kill me or my family members.

It could happen!
Link Posted: 8/13/2007 5:27:25 AM EDT
[#34]

Quoted:
As long as I can do it, without the cop that I just went by, seeing my taillights.









I just love those fog lights.
Link Posted: 8/13/2007 5:29:46 AM EDT
[#35]
Link Posted: 8/13/2007 5:30:12 AM EDT
[#36]
Yes, I warn drivers about speed traps, especially in VA now that the increased civil fees are in effect.

I also do it to let truckers know they have room to merge or change lanes.
Link Posted: 8/13/2007 5:35:10 AM EDT
[#37]
Wow, who would have thought this thread would get this heated?

I used to signal like that, but I sort of fell out of the habit. If TX adopts the insane revenue-generating fees that Virginia has recently implemented, then I may start again.
Link Posted: 8/13/2007 5:42:16 AM EDT
[#38]

Quoted:

Quoted:

Quoted:

Quoted:
Oh rainman reminds me, is there something they can charge you with if they see you flashing lights at other drivers?


Yes, and I hope the asshat doing 90+ doesn't drive you off the road and injure your family members.



And I hope a meteor doesn't fall from the sky and kill me or my family members.

It could happen!


Now Hoppy, what kind of argument is that?

No one can prevent a meteor from falling.

But traffic laws are in place to prevent idiots from speeding and endangering other citizens on the highway.

That's why society has laws.  To control dangerous behavior and prevent irresponsible people from endangering others.



No argument.  I thought we were playing the "what if" game again.

Traffic laws are in place to prevent accidents.  Unfortunately they are used as a revenue generator much of the time too.

My Dad used to say "Don't piss on my head and tell me it's raining".
Link Posted: 8/13/2007 5:44:33 AM EDT
[#39]

Quoted:
Traffic laws are in place to prevent accidents.  Unfortunately they are used as a revenue generator much of the time too.

My Dad used to say "Don't piss on my head and tell me it's raining".


Actually in VA our elected officials have stated that the "civil fees" were passed specifically to raise revenue, not to improve traffic safety.
Link Posted: 8/13/2007 5:45:16 AM EDT
[#40]
People would not weave in an out of traffic if morons stayed the fuck out of the left lane when not passing, and when they are passing, they do so with a fucking purpose.

TXL

Link Posted: 8/13/2007 5:48:37 AM EDT
[#41]

Quoted:

Quoted:
as for bama's example of the petterass not getting caught, I think the odds of that scenario occurring are low enough as to be insignificant...


Yeah.

As long as it ain't your granddaughter.


Sure, but her chances of just plain dying in your car are a hell of alot higher than being kidnapped, and having the bad guy interpet a flashing high beam as notifying him of a roadblock ahead.

IT DAMN SURE IS NOT ENOUGH TO GET ME TO STOP FLASHING FOR A SPEED TRAP.

TXL
Link Posted: 8/13/2007 7:22:57 AM EDT
[#42]

Quoted:

Quoted:

Quoted:
as for bama's example of the petterass not getting caught, I think the odds of that scenario occurring are low enough as to be insignificant...


Yeah.

As long as it ain't your granddaughter.


Sure, but her chances of just plain dying in your car are a hell of alot higher than being kidnapped, and having the bad guy interpet a flashing high beam as notifying him of a roadblock ahead.

IT DAMN SURE IS NOT ENOUGH TO GET ME TO STOP FLASHING FOR A SPEED TRAP.

TXL


So let me get this straight, everytime you see an LEO running radar/Laser it's a speed trap? While I admit these exist in some small towns, many are problem areas or in response to complaints from the citizenry about excessive speeding in a certain locale. I guess if you lived in a 35mph zone and the constabulary decided to slow it down you would not object to others warning everyone. It may slow them down temporarily but not as well as that summons for 70 in a 35 would.
Link Posted: 8/13/2007 7:33:58 AM EDT
[#43]
So use your freakin FOGLIGHTS to do it, not illegal...
Link Posted: 8/13/2007 7:34:54 AM EDT
[#44]

Quoted:

Quoted:

Quoted:

Quoted:
as for bama's example of the petterass not getting caught, I think the odds of that scenario occurring are low enough as to be insignificant...


Yeah.

As long as it ain't your granddaughter.


Yeah...and we should ban all guns too, "if it saves just one life."  Do it for the children!  


I didn't say that and don't believe that.

Do you?

If so, you are mistaken.


It's the very same logic:  "Let's make a freedom" in this case free speech "illegal because there's an incredibly slim chance it might save someone's life."
Link Posted: 8/13/2007 11:08:09 AM EDT
[#45]
What's a speed trap?


As a cop, I have never set up anybody in a trap...that would be illegal (entrapment).

When people speed, they do it all on there own without me "trapping" them. And no, the more tickets I write, the more toaster ovens I can win.
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