Flashing Lights

[imavol]

Can a person be given a ticket for flashing thier lights at a oncoming car warning them that there is a cop shooting radar ahead ? If so under what law is it ? I am in an ongoing discussion with some folks about this and would appreciate any info on the subject. BTW Im in Tennessee

[retdetsgt]

I don't know anything about Tennessee law, but it sounds like free speech to me. If you can flash your lights to alert someone to turn on their headlights, I can't see why not. That used to be pretty common, but it's been years since I've seen anyone do that around here, at least.

[coucousis]

Yeap... Our Highway Safety code have an article for crossing another car while raising your high beams.

Many decision in that manner have been out where offender were declared guilty for raising their headlights in order to prevent others of a radar soon to come.

Following Highway safety code article.... Fine 60$ + fees = 95$ total:D

Dimming of lights.


425. The driver of a road vehicle must dim the lights on the front of his vehicle when he is less than 150 metres from a vehicle approaching in the opposite direction, when he is less than 150 metres behind another vehicle that he is following or when he is moving on a highway that is sufficiently lighted.

[TX-LEO]

Can a person be given a ticket for flashing thier lights at a oncoming car warning them that there is a cop shooting radar ahead ? If so under what law is it ? I am in an ongoing discussion with some folks about this and would appreciate any info on the subject. BTW Im in Tennessee

It's called fail to dim headlights here, and yes I can stop you and cite you for it. I could also justify a stop IMO to check on your welfare to makes sure you are A-OK.:D

[Citicop]

Yup. Fail to dim headlights here as well. Folks are always surprised when they get stopped and ticketed for that...

Citicop.

[Legoate]

If I caught you doing this it is 100% guaranteed that you would be stopped and cited to the full extent. You want to take the game to the next level, I'm all for it, just be willing to pay the price when you get caught.

[mcsap]

Would be a night time only vio in PA. But then ...if you had something hanging from your rear view mirror...that can be a cite as well.

[Creeker]

We had a traffic guy cite someone for that under "Improper Lights" or something similar. The motorist fought it @ jury trial and won.

That was 2 decades ago & I haven't heard of it being done since.

I actually thought the "light flash" went out with the cb radio & everybody had detectors now ...:rolleyes:

[DeltaV]

You can be cited for it in Florida. If the headlights are illuminated then they must steadily burn, not flash. Florida law prohibits any flashing lights on the vehicle with the exception of turn signals and hazard lights.

[Creeker]

You can be cited for it in Florida. If the headlights are illuminated then they must steadily burn, not flash. Florida law prohibits any flashing lights on the vehicle with the exception of turn signals and hazard lights.

I'm guessing "flash to pass" is not in the Florida drivers Manual? I don't think its in the SC Manual, either, but I've found it very helpful on two lane roads and on Interstates when a trucker wants in or out.

[ChesCopPodz]

Technically here you cannot turn on your highbeams when approaching an oncoming vehicle. Technically I can stop and cite. One judge here dismissed a case of it as a free speech issue. As so far as I know there is no case law on it, just that one judge. However I've only seen one come to court.

If the person is so disrespectful to do it when I can still see them, I'll go pull them over (only ever happened a handful of times). I have a little fun with it. I tell them I saw their highbeams flash and that it was either a deliberate act hence illegal, or it's an electrical problem and I can't let them continue to drive the vehicle. Then let them sweat it out a bit.

Personally I don't care if they do it, but to do it when still within my view is a bit of a slap in the face.

[Johninaustin]

I would not bother personally. The whole point of speed enforcement is to slow traffic down, who am I to turn down a little volunteer help?

One of my favorite activites when I workd DWI enforcement was to park on a hill overlooking one on of the major highways and randomly turn the radar on and off.

You'd be amazed at the sea of brake lights. :D

[scott715us]

Can a person be given a ticket for flashing thier lights at a oncoming car warning them that there is a cop shooting radar ahead ? If so under what law is it ? I am in an ongoing discussion with some folks about this and would appreciate any info on the subject. BTW Im in Tennessee

55-9-407. Multiple beam road lighting equipment — Use. —

Whenever the road lighting equipment on a motor vehicle is so arranged that the driver may select at will between two (2) or more distributions of light from headlights or lamps or auxiliary road lighting lamps or lights, or combinations thereof, directed to different elevations, the following requirements shall apply while driving during the times when lights are required:

(1) When there is no oncoming vehicle within five hundred feet (500¢), the driver shall use an upper distribution of light; provided, that a lower distribution of light may be used when fog, dust, or other atmospheric conditions make it desirable for reasons of safety, and when within the confines of municipalities where there is sufficient light to render clearly discernible persons and vehicles on the highway at a distance of five hundred feet (500¢) ahead and when following another vehicle within five hundred feet (500¢); and

(2) When within five hundred feet (500¢) of an oncoming vehicle, a driver shall use a distribution of light so aimed that the glaring rays therefrom are not directed into the eyes of the oncoming driver

[retdetsgt]

I would not bother personally. The whole point of speed enforcement is to slow traffic down, who am I to turn down a little volunteer help?

That's how I look at it. I doubt I would get worked up enough to even stop somebody for it, much less cite them on a technical violation.

I think speed enforcement should be to slow down traffic to prevent accidents. Unfortunately, there are those depts that use it as a revenue gathering method.

Unless they've changed, and I doubt they have, my old dept uses accident statistics to determine where to work radar and other traffic enforcement, not where they can catch the most violators in the shortest amount of time.

[taylorplayer]

I heard someone charge criminally "Hindering an investigation" for light flashing. I wonder if it stuck...

Personally, if it's slowing down traffic, it's doing its job.