Flashing headlights to warn of speed trap
 

Is it illegal?

My buddy was given a warning for that, and a speeding ticket.

If you warn others of a radar trap it causes them to slow down, which is the point of the speed trap is it not?

It seems like crap that you can a possible citation for this.

I'd have fun fighting that ticket.

Definitely illegal in the UK, perverting the course of Justice

And that, right there, is the difference between citizens and subjects.

Found to be no illegal in Ontario but I am sure if they wanted to they could find some obstruction of justice law for it.

In the end they don't like it because it prevents revenue generation.

***** cops, ,this is the one thing that really pisses me off!! The armed revenue collectors push that BS that they are trying to enforce safety when in fact they are just trying to hit their quota.. Wonder how the gestapo hitler youth sleeps at night ?
Rant over,, I always flash my lights..

Best one over here was an old guy who stuck his 2 fingers up as he went through a camera site. Got done for not being in proper control of a vehicle as well as speeding.

Well, you have to be caught flashing first. If you've passed the trap, you just about have to flash an oncoming cop to get busted. Now, what would they do? Probably make a u-turn and pull you over. They'll find something to detain you enough to make it a hassle.

So, don't flash the cop. :)

I used to flash when in more rural areas. In the city/ghetto, no one knows what you're doing. It's pointless around here.

On what basis is it illegal? Interfering with a law officer? I think it is total crap, but how is it illegal?

For the record, I ALWAYS flash. I tend to always be around 10% over the limit, so I appreciate it when someone does it for me.

And, how the heck could they:

A. Prove I did flash (unless they have video)
B. Prove the reason I flashed. (even if the have video)

They use safety as justification, but they are really glorified revenue collectors.....

It is illegal here in Va, but we do it anyway. I also run a V1 which is also illegal here. They get enough of my money they are gonna have to work very hard to get any more.

Along with just about anything else you say/do, there are several laws against this in Calif:

Upper and Lower Beam
24407. Multiple-beam road lighting equipment shall be designed and aimed as follows:

(a) There shall be an uppermost distribution of light, or composite beam, so aimed and of such intensity as to reveal persons and vehicles at a distance of at least 350 feet ahead for all conditions of loading.

(b) There shall be a lowermost distribution of light, or composite beam so aimed and of sufficient intensity to reveal a person or vehicle at a distance of at least 100 feet ahead. On a straight level road under any condition of loading none of the high intensity portion of the beam shall be directed to strike the eyes of an approaching driver.

Flashing Lights
25250. Flashing lights are prohibited on vehicles except as otherwise permitted.



Permitted Flashing Lights
25251. (a) Flashing lights are permitted on vehicles as follows:

(1) To indicate an intention to turn or move to the right or left upon a roadway, turn signal lamps and turn signal exterior pilot indicator lamps and side lamps permitted under Section 25106 may be flashed on the side of a vehicle toward which the turn or movement is to be made.

(2) When disabled or parked off the roadway but within 10 feet of the roadway, or when approaching, stopped at, or departing from, a railroad grade crossing, turn signal lamps may be flashed as warning lights if the front turn signal lamps at each side are being flashed simultaneously and the rear turn signal lamps at each side are being flashed simultaneously.

(3) To warn other motorists of accidents or hazards on a roadway, turn signal lamps may be flashed as warning lights while the vehicle is approaching, overtaking, or passing the accident or hazard on the roadway if the front turn signal lamps at each side are being flashed simultaneously and the rear turn signal lamps at each side are being flashed simultaneously.

(4) For use on authorized emergency vehicles.

(5) To warn other motorists of a funeral procession, turn signal lamps may be flashed as warning lights on all vehicles actually engaged in a funeral procession, if the front turn signal lamps at each side are being flashed simultaneously and the rear turn signal lamps at each side are being flashed simultaneously.

(b) Turn signal lamps shall be flashed as warning lights whenever a vehicle is disabled upon the roadway and the vehicle is equipped with a device to automatically activate the front turn signal lamps at each side to flash simultaneously and the rear turn signal lamps at each side to flash simultaneously, if the device and the turn signal lamps were not rendered inoperative by the event which caused the vehicle to be disabled.

(c) Side lamps permitted under Section 25106 and used in conjunction with turn signal lamps may be flashed with the turn signal lamps as part of the warning light system, as provided in paragraphs (2) and (3) of subdivision (a).

(d) Required or permitted lamps on a trailer or semitrailer may flash when the trailer or semitrailer has broken away from the towing vehicle and the connection between the vehicles is broken.

(e) Hazard warning lights, as permitted by paragraphs (2) and (3) of subdivision (a) may be flashed in a repeating series of short and long flashes when the driver is in need of help.

24409. Whenever a motor vehicle is being operated during darkness,
the driver shall use a distribution of light, or composite beam,
directed high enough and of sufficient intensity to reveal persons
and vehicles at a safe distance in advance of the vehicle, subject to
the following requirements and limitations:
(a) Whenever the driver of a vehicle approaches an oncoming
vehicle within 500 feet, he shall use a distribution of light or
composite beam so aimed that the glaring rays are not projected into
the eyes of the oncoming driver.
The lowermost distribution of light specified in this article
shall be deemed to avoid glare at all times regardless of road
contour.
(b) Whenever the driver of a vehicle follows another vehicle
within 300 feet to the rear, he shall use the lowermost distribution
of light specified in this article.

And in FLA, this is what you'll be cited for:

Florida Statutes, Title XXIII, chapter 316, rule 2397, subsection 7:

"Flashing lights are prohibited on vehicles except as a means of indicating a right or left turn, to change lanes, or to indicate that the vehicle is lawfully stopped or disabled upon the highway.

None of what you posted has to do with flashing your main beams other than how your mains are to be adjusted. What you posted addresses conditions in which you are allowed to use your turn signals/hazzards.

Ahh...must be a young'n raised on YouTube...

They'll prove it the same way they prove everything else without video, including speeding, illegal turns, illegal lane changes, following too closely, etc. The cop appears in court, raises his right hand and testifies as to what he witnessed.

Don't shoot me, I'm just the messenger. Some/all of everything I cited above is what you'll be written up for if caught flashing your headlights in CA.

No, you listed those statutes as laws against flashing your high beams. You were incorrect.

Nope, not a youngin....

And I truly believe the system is flawed. I want to see PROOF that I committed an offense, not just hear what some person says.

I want to see evidence. An officer's testimony is no different than mine.

This sounds similar to it being illegal to randomly feed expired parking meters.

I'd simply tell the judge that you spotted a car sitting in the median projecting out into traffic with its lights off and you wanted to warn fellow motorists of the danger.

Karma. I always flash. I love getting the wave in return.


One time my wife and I were heading somewhere in separate vehicles. I zoomed ahead in my Pcar and saw a speed trap. So I phoned my wife on her cell and told her about it. When we got to where we were going she told me "don't bother phoning me about speed traps, I don't speed." Ha.