Flashing lights at speeders

[Rye Miles #13621]

I passed a policeman hidden in the bushes on a fairly main road. I hardly ever do this but I blinked my brights at a couple on coming cars. I figured , well if it slows them down it’s a good thing right? I do believe you can get some kind of ticket if you’re caught doing that in certain municipalities. 

So what’s the consensus on warning on coming drivers? 

[Cowtown Scout, SASS #53540 L]

Use to do it all the time years ago, not so much anymore.

[Cold Lake Kid, SASS # 51474]

I used to, but not anymore.

I concluded their speeding was a contributing factor to accidents and the increase in my insurance rates.

Now, here in Ontario, Canada at least, insurance companies look at your driving offence transcript and rate charge you accordingly.

[Rip Snorter]

Nope, never did it.  Am law-abiding and pro law enforcement.  Folks who chose to break laws should get their comeuppance.  Besides, sitting on radar for speeders is the most boring part of police work.  We used to bet on speeds before they hit the radar and even up at shift end.  Quarter bet so it could add up.

[Dantankerous]

I believe that flashing your headlights has been ruled on in court as protected free speech.

 

 

Edited March 5 by Dantankerous

[Rye Miles #13621]

46 minutes ago, Rip Snorter said:

Nope, never did it.  Am law-abiding and pro law enforcement.  Folks who chose to break laws should get their comeuppance.  Besides, sitting on radar for speeders is the most boring part of police work.  We used to bet on speeds before they hit the radar and even up at shift end.  Quarter bet so it could add up.

I get that the speeders need to pay for their sin but at the same time it’s slowing them down and possibly avoiding an accident down the road. 

[Alpo]

59 minutes ago, Rye Miles #13621 said:

but at the same time it’s slowing them down

Back when you can still tell cop cars when you saw one, one of our neighboring towns parked the police car on the side of the main street going into town, with a mannequin behind the wheel wearing a uniform.

 

Obviously he was not able to pass out speeding tickets, but seeing that cop car up ahead slowed traffic greatly.

 

And that, apparently, was the point.

[Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770]

1 hour ago, Rye Miles #13621 said:

I get that the speeders need to pay for their sin but at the same time it’s slowing them down and possibly avoiding an accident down the road. 

If the Cop pulls them over and Tickets them, that'll slow them down too.

[Marshal Mo Hare, SASS #45984]

Flashing lights at speeders
 

innocent until proven guilty 

 

Flashing lights at other drivers

[Eyesa Horg]

27 minutes ago, Alpo said:

Back when you can still tell cop cars when you saw one, one of our neighboring towns parked the police car on the side of the main street going into town, with a mannequin behind the wheel wearing a uniform.

 

Obviously he was not able to pass out speeding tickets, but seeing that cop car up ahead slowed traffic greatly.

 

And that, apparently, was the point.

We used to see one of those somewhere in Pennsylvania, I think; over the course of the year the grass grew up to the windows and the mannequins uniform faded! I'm sure it lost its effect!

Still see the tactic occasionally, and it works.

Edited March 5 by Eyesa Horg
Forgot a word! Mighta been otto!

[Rye Miles #13621]

14 minutes ago, Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770 said:

If the Cop pulls them over and Tickets them, that'll slow them down too.

Good point!😎

[Marshal Mo Hare, SASS #45984]

33 minutes ago, Alpo said:

Back when you can still tell cop cars when you saw one, one of our neighboring towns parked the police car on the side of the main street going into town, with a mannequin behind the wheel wearing a uniform.

 

Obviously he was not able to pass out speeding tickets, but seeing that cop car up ahead slowed traffic greatly.

 

And that, apparently, was the point.

NH did that in the grassy median on NH 101. A motorist stopped to ask for assistance. NH didn’t do that any more.

[Blackwater 53393]

I usually flash the headlights to warn oncoming vehicles of ANY type of problem ahead!

 

Backups, accidents, breakdowns, and police vehicles are all reasons to let someone know that they are approaching a potential problem!

 

It’s a matter of courtesy and might help someone avoid real difficulties/danger!

[Gracos Kid]

My thoughts are:    How many drug dealers are being warned of LEO up ahead?

                                     How many people with outstanding warrants are being warned and to flee in the opposite direction.....

                                    How many people are being alerted to the DUI checkpoints up ahead?

 

Unless there is a serious necessity such as alerting to a serious road hazard just around the curve, there is no reason to alert law abiding citizens 

that a LEO is up ahead...... LEO's are just doing their job........Why would any law abiding citizen be concerned that a patrol car is up ahead.....

[Black Angus McPherson]

1 hour ago, Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770 said:

If the Cop pulls them over and Tickets them, that'll slow them down too.

 

That's supposed to be the whole point of running radar.  I never cared if someone was flashing their lights at speeders or waving signs.  I was once running radar next to a fire station and several firefighters came out and started carrying signs that said "Warning Radar", "Warning Traffic Cop" and walking around the station driveway like regular protesters.  I thought it was funny as heck.  Anyone that saw them should have already seen me (I wasn't hiding) and it slowed down a lot of traffic.

 

They were all friends of mine and they got bored pretty quick and went back inside for lunch.

 

Even when I stopped someone I was much more likely to give a warning than a ticket.

 

Angus

[Wallaby Jack, SASS #44062]

If they're speeding ...... let them face the consequences.

 

If it's a traffic problem ....... yes.

 

  ...... if it's someone I know ....... probably, ... just to say "hello".

 

🙃

[Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770]

1 hour ago, Rye Miles #13621 said:

Good point!😎

When I wear a hat it doesn't show.

[Chantry]

How many people even still recognize that flashing your lights at them means there are police ahead?

[Cypress Sun]

Yes, I'll flash my lights to warn of a speed trap ahead.

 

IMO, most speeding citations have nothing to do with public safety. They're strictly a fund raising part of "law enforcement". That's why they don't usually cite drivers speeding less that 15 mph over the limit. 15 and over gets the BIG ticket. 

 

 Besides that, most of the people you try to warn don't know what the flashing lights mean....or they're on their cell phone and don't notice anyway.

 

In case it's not obvious, I detest speed traps.

Edited March 6 by Cypress Sun

[Forty Rod SASS 3935]

3 hours ago, Alpo said:

Back when you can still tell cop cars when you saw one, one of our neighboring towns parked the police car on the side of the main street going into town, with a mannequin behind the wheel wearing a uniform.

 

Obviously he was not able to pass out speeding tickets, but seeing that cop car up ahead slowed traffic greatly.

 

And that, apparently, was the point.

Sounds like Brigham City, Utah in the '60s and early '70s.  They moved it every day or two so you never knew if it was a real cop or a dummy.  

 

(Don't say it!  DO NOT say it!!!)

[Hardpan Curmudgeon SASS #8967]

When I was a kid - which was a long time ago - I had a bunch of older grownup male relatives who were truckers.  Flashing to warn oncomers of a "speed trap" was common practice among truckers and considered a courtesy.  Generally, the only non-truck "warning flashers" were off-duty or former truckers.  Somewhere along the line (seventies?) it kinda got picked up by others; but like @Cypress Sun pointed out above, most folk wouldn't know what it means anyway.

 

In today's world, your cell phone GPS screen will show "speed traps" reported by someone else, then ask you if it's still there.   

[Rattlesnake Slim]

2 hours ago, Black Angus McPherson said:

I never cared if someone was flashing their lights at speeders or waving signs.  I was once running radar next to a fire station and several firefighters came out and started carrying signs that said "Warning Radar", "Warning Traffic Cop" and walking around the station driveway like regular protesters.  I thought it was funny as heck.  Anyone that saw them should have already seen me (I wasn't hiding) and it slowed down a lot of traffic.

 

They were all friends of mine and they got bored pretty quick and went back inside for lunch.

 

That's funny. We did the same thing at a fire station I worked at in Lake Tahoe. Like you, the deputies laughed it off, saying there were plenty of stupid people left that didn't see the signs to give tickets to! Also like you, we were all good friends and always had each other's backs.

[Stump Water]

6 hours ago, Dantankerous said:

I believe that flashing your headlights has been ruled on in court as protected free speech.

 

Must have been ruled since the 80s.  The ex got busted for doing it.  Of course the idjit turned her lights on and off instead of using the dimmer switch, so the LEO she just passed could see what she was doing.

 

I only do it to warn of a hazard ahead. 

[watab kid]

i dont - dont see that often 

[Pat Riot]

Hi, my name is Pat and I am a speeder.

The crowd responds “Hi Pat” 

 

I will flash my lights to warn others. I got pulled over for it in California years ago.  Officer asked why I flashed my lights. 
I said “To let people know about your speed trap.” 
He said “You are interfering with the duties of the police. You can be ticketed”

I said “Write my ticket then I will see you in court and you can explain why you pulled over a non speeder. Seems like you could be catching speeders but instead you’re here busting my chops.” 
He took my papers and went back to his car to run wants and warrants then let me stew there for 25 minutes. I have no idea what he was doing but he came back and let me go with a warning. 
I guess I won, but I was a half hour late to the party I was headed to. 
 

I wholeheartedly agree with @Cypress Sun

It’s not about safety. It’s about revenue. Period. 
 

I meant my first statement. I am a speeder and I will be until I can’t drive any longer. 
 

 

[Equanimous Phil]

 

[Sheriff Dill]

I know here in Vt the municipal tickets written for speeding or other violations under municipal statutes would be a source of revenue for the town or city the officer works in. 
 

There was a time when gangs in bigger cities would use the flashing lights as a “gang game” and whom ever flashed there lights ended up getting chased down by the gang and shot. 
 

When I was an officer I used to love it when people flashed lights or beeped horns to warn others of my presence. The ones slowing down for that isn’t the ones needing the ticket the ones not paying attention to the flashing lights or speed limit signs going 20 mph over the speed limit were the good ones to pull over because they could not only get the ticket with lots of points in their license but they could also get the criminal charges to go with it. 
 

When I was new on the job I would sit back and try to hide my cruiser to catch people but quickly realized that hiding in plain sight was more productive. 
 

 

[Subdeacon Joe]

Never did it.   Never even heard of it.   Someone oncoming flashes their lights?  If it's daytime, I check to see if my lights are on.  At night I check if my brights are on. 

 

 

[Rye Miles #13621]

23 minutes ago, Subdeacon Joe said:

Never did it.   Never even heard of it.   Someone oncoming flashes their lights?  If it's daytime, I check to see if my lights are on.  At night I check if my brights are on. 

 

 

Never heard of it ? Joe you’ve led a sheltered life!😂😜

[Subdeacon Joe]

3 minutes ago, Rye Miles #13621 said:

Never heard of it ? Joe you’ve led a sheltered life!😂😜

 

OK, maybe I had heard of,  but forgotten about along with the other "197 Things Flashing Headlights Mean."

 

The only things I use Flashing Headlights for are letting a trucker know he's clear to change lanes, or to tell an oncoming vehicle his brights are on.

[Rye Miles #13621]

12 minutes ago, Subdeacon Joe said:

 

OK, maybe I had heard of,  but forgotten about along with the other "197 Things Flashing Headlights Mean."

 

The only things I use Flashing Headlights for are letting a trucker know he's clear to change lanes, or to tell an oncoming vehicle his brights are on.

A lot of it has to do with the road you’re on and flashing your lights at oncoming traffic. Some people don’t get it but some will.

 

I also use a flashing light to  truckers but they’re going in the same direction I am, so that’s totally different. 

[Eyesa Horg]

10 minutes ago, Rye Miles #13621 said:

A lot of it has to do with the road you’re on and flashing your lights at oncoming traffic. Some people don’t get it but some will.

 

I also use a flashing light to  truckers but they’re going in the same direction I am, so that’s totally different. 

And it's my understanding that it's better to turn them on and off to inform the trucker he has room to move over. Less chance of blinding him/her with high beams in the mirror. Most truckers will give you a tail light flash as a thank you.

[Alpo]

9 minutes ago, Rye Miles #13621 said:

I also use a flashing light to  truckers

Truckers, motorhomes, fifth wheels, people pulling big boats - basically anybody that's got the back end of their vehicle a long way back.

 

Back in '05 I took my daughter's family to Fandango. I had lost my wallet, so had no driver's license. So my daughter and my son-in-law traded driving. And we're driving down the road at night and semis would be passing us and I told him to blink his lights for them and he had no idea what I was talking about. He had never heard of that.

[Cypress Sun]

 

I always used to turn the headlights off and on for a semi driver to let them know they're clear. Doesn't seem like too many semis' pass me these days.....nights either.

 

 

[Sheriff Dill]

Alot of the truckers out here in the NE will flash their brake lights to indicate it’s clear to pass them.