Warning other drivers about radar use

[Cass]

Just today I had two drivers flash their brights at me to warn me about a cop sitting down the road running radar.

I've always wondered if this is legal or would be considered interfering with a police operation or something similar?

No, I don't do it. It's not my responsibility to get people out of the tickets they deserve.

[retdetsgt]

Sounds like any law against it would be a violation of free speech.

Although in Oregon, most people are too stupid to know what flashing your lights at them means.

[BP348]

Can't see why it would be illegal, try to prove that one in a court of law

Cop: you honor he flashed his headlights warning others about the speed trap
Me: Your honor I was trying to clean my windshild and accidently used the headlight switch instead of the washer switch.

We have one area that I drive through all most every day that's a HUGE speed trap and I see people warning others as they get close all the time. Matter of fact I've been know to do it a time or two depending on my mood.

[phantasm]

it could be illegal use of highbeams

Also I do believe that some states have laws against warnings of this nature, but not my state, so I can't confirm.

[Nole795]

I remember a guy that would become a walking billboard with a sign warning drivers of a speed trap ahead. No problem there. You always get a speeder, no matter what warnings you are putting out.

[GoDirectly2Jail]

Not illegal in Va, but is in Maryland from what I understand.

[Buffboy]

I look at that kind of warning the same way as I do radar detectors. I can usually tell when you have a radar detector. None of them are likely to keep me from getting a lock on you before you can slow down. I usually see someone hitting the brakes on the radar as well as visually.

My job/goal when doing traffic is to get compliance with the speed law. If someone flashing their lights gets that compliance, that's still accomplishing my goal, even if I don't write a ticket. I write tickets for the people too thick to get it any other way and there are still lots of those out there to write.

[Citicop]

I stop people for this whenever I see it (failure to dim hi beams).

I don't always write it, but my take on it is this...

The people doing the flashing have no idea what I'm doing there. Am I there to catch speeders, or am I waiting for the vehicle involved in a drive by shooting or carjacking that is supposed to be heading this way? People rarely think of that when they act, and giving them another perspective may help change future behavior.

-Citicop.

[retdetsgt]

My job/goal when doing traffic is to get compliance with the speed law. If someone flashing their lights gets that compliance, that's still accomplishing my goal, even if I don't write a ticket. I write tickets for the people too thick to get it any other way and there are still lots of those out there to write.

I like the way you think......

[scott715us]

In TN, if a vehicle is within 500 feet of another, either coming towards or approaching from behind, they must lower their hi beams. Their "warning" flashes actually violate that law, though I am in the same mindset as others. Regardless who is doing the "warning," we will still have plenty to stop and it's getting folks to slow down.

[PapaBear]

Just today I had two drivers flash their brights at me to warn me about a cop sitting down the road running radar.

I've always wondered if this is legal or would be considered interfering with a police operation or something similar?

No, I don't do it. It's not my responsibility to get people out of the tickets they deserve.

Do you have some verifiable proof that they were flashing their lights for that reason? It could be that you had your headlights on high beam and they were blinded.

I find it curious that an act, like flashing one's headlamps at oncoming traffic, could be interpreted as fact that the Po-Po is using radar. Rather presumptuous I think!

Just drive along, worry about yourself and don't try to outguess others.

[cntryboy0531]

I remember a guy that would become a walking billboard with a sign warning drivers of a speed trap ahead. No problem there. You always get a speeder, no matter what warnings you are putting out.

I agree completely.

Doesn't matter if you got an apache gunship circling low overhead firing rockets at speeding vehicles with a big sign flashing "COP RUNNING RADAR AHEAD"... you'll still get people to come through your area at Mach 9....

[kels]

Go right ahead and flash those headlights.

I know a couple of troopers who love people who do that.

(hint hint,press hard, three copies, if you dont get it)

[Creeker]

A cop in my County once made big Headlines when he wrote one for "Improper Lights". Don't ask me why, it must have been a slow newsday.

The Magistrate threw the case out.

I used to hate running radar, unless I caught some that were well over. My pet was Red lights. Its not like you are not getting a warning with those.

I got the desired results by painting a small coffee can black and sitting it on my dash while I wrote reports in my favorite spot.

[CCBlueMan]

Not illegal in Va, but is in Maryland from what I understand.

Not illegal per se - though I have been known to pull people over for failing to din high beams.

As for warning people, I always liked this pic: