$1,000 Fine for Flashing Headlights to Warn Motorists of Cops – Lawsuit Follows

[donnay]

$1,000 Fine for Flashing Headlights to Warn Motorists of Cops – Lawsuit Follows

Did you know that you could be fined for flashing your headlights to warn other people of speed traps? Police who are hiding in wait, do not appreciate headlight whistleblowers. This leads to the question – Is flashing your lights a part of free speech?

By Amanda Warren
Activist Post
July 21, 2013

The question is meaningful to Michael Elli of Missouri who did what most of us have done on the road – flashed his headlights to warn oncoming drivers of a cop waiting around the corner to catch motorists in a speed trap. In Ellisville, MO, he had no idea he was doing something “illegal.”

He was surprised to receive a ticket for obstruction of justice – with it, a $1,000 fine. He fought it, calling his warning flash protected free speech. Although prosecutors dropped charges, Elli along with the ACLU filed a class action lawsuit against Ellisville for even handing out those types of tickets to begin with.

Legal director of the town’s ACLU chapter, Tony Rothert, aptly pointed out:

Those who use their First Amendment rights to warn others to drive cautiously should not be punished for their message. After all, the purpose of traffic laws is to promote safety, not generate revenue.

Florida, Ohio, Tennessee, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Utah have actually ruled that flashing lights is okay under the First Amendment. Arizona and Alaska strictly forbid the practice under any circumstance apparently because of safety. Who knew?

Source:
http://intellihub.com/2013/07/21/1000-fine-for-flashing-headlights-to-warn-motorists-of-cops-lawsuit-follows/

[RickyJ]

If flashing lights is not OK then just beep your horn in morse code. The dumb cops will never figure that out.

[Carlybee]

I guess it's back to CBs. Breaker 1-9

[trey4sports]

Wow I live close to ellsville and always flash my lights to warn drivers of police. I was actually just talking to my mom about this the other day and she mentioned not to let the cops see me flash my lights and I told her that they can't do anything about it. Odd that I see this article just a day after discussing the topic and its near me as well.

[The Northbreather]

You manifested the reality:toady:

[surf]

hell, I do it to let folks know to turn their lights on.... they rarely get it. it's sad.

but I've been both saved and saved by this, though I do always make sure the money-grubbing-bastard can't see me when I do it.

edit: i'm ashamed that I try to hide it

[Root]

I guess it's back to CBs. Breaker 1-9

Waze or Trapster smartphone apps. I found more people in my area use Waze.

[mrsat_98]

Considering the penchant the police have for lying, shooting dogs, etc. I would use a different argument. i.e. warning about the low life gang members on the road ahead. the low life baby daddy killers.

[EBounding]

Why can't you flash your lights to get people driving too quickly to slow down?

[asurfaholic]

Why can't you flash your lights to get people driving too quickly to slow down?

Obstruction of revenue.

The dipshit police dont actually care about safety, only the power they feel from being the ones to punish others and collect a bounty.

[ghengis86]

I do this all the time. I love helping a fellow citizen stay out of the states clutches. I'll even stick my arm out the window with a flat hand motioning up and down and pointing to let them know. There are a couple spots by me where the pigs like to hide out. I've even thought of putting an LED display on my dash or rear dash, behind the grill, etc that I can flip on with the message, "cop ahead, slow down".

[jbauer]

Man I warn people all the time if there's a cop. Why would it be illegal to flash your lights?

[jbauer]

Why can't you flash your lights to get people driving too quickly to slow down?

Because you'd be taking work away from a government official wearing a gangsta uniform.

[presence]

Obstruction of revenue.

winner

[PaulConventionWV]

After all, the purpose of traffic laws is to promote safety, not generate revenue.


*facepalm*

[WM_in_MO]

Those who use their First Amendment rights to warn others to drive cautiously should not be punished for their message. After all, the purpose of traffic laws is to promote safety, not generate revenue.


he must be new here.

[VBRonPaulFan]

If flashing lights is not OK then just beep your horn in morse code. The dumb cops will never figure that out.

Honking when it is not because of emergency is actually illegal where i'm at IIRC.

[Keith and stuff]

he must be new here.
How many states is this a punishable offense? AK? AZ? Any others?

[libertarianMoney]

I'm particularly fond of the people that climb out of their cars and make signs announcing the speed trap ("Speed trap ahead, etc." The few courageous enough to do that deserve a little bit of love too.

If the light flashing becomes costly then that might be a fun option.

[presence]

How many states is this a punishable offense? AK? AZ? Any others?


I'm particularly fond of the people that climb out of their cars and make signs announcing the speed trap ("Speed trap ahead, etc." The few courageous enough to do that deserve a little bit of love too.

If the light flashing becomes costly then that might be a fun option.


Texas, Missouri:


http://abcnews.go.com/US/speed-trap-sign-lands-texas-woman-jail/story?id=16670386


A Houston woman's attempt to save drivers from a speeding ticket landed her something worse: 12 hours in jail.

http://www.ktsm.com/local/police-arrest-jogger-after-he-warns-drivers-of-speed-trap

A man in West El Paso is claiming he was thrown in jail last week in retaliation for warning drivers about a nearby police checkpoint for speeding.


http://www.policecrimes.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=9503

Today, I parked my truck in a construction lot along Lohman's Crossing in Lakeway Texas. It was in a school zone

http://www.copblock.org/7344/florida-highway-patrol-illegally-tickets-motorists-who-warn-others-about-speed-traps/

KC Activist Warns Drivers of Checkpoints. I Was Arrested for a Law that Doesn't Exist




International:

http://www.drivers.com/article/872/


In the UK last month a milk truck driver convicted of warning motorists of a speed trap ahead had his conviction overturned by a High Court. Government prosecutors had argued that the purpose of the trap was to catch people, so driver Charles Glendinning had obstructed police in their duties.

http://carinsurance.arrivealive.co.za/can-you-be-arrested-for-flashing-lights-warning-other-motorists-of-speed-traps.php

South Africa “If a motorist warns other motorists of the presence of a speed trap by flashing his lights , he interferes with the due administration of justice, and according to the decision in Naidoo [1777 2 SA 123 (N)] commits an attempt to defeat the course of justice. However, in S v Perera [1978 3 SA 523 (T)] in which the facts were materially the same, it was held that the person committing the act will only be guilty if he has reason to believe that the vehicle approaching him is exceeding the speed limit, or that the driver of this vehicle has the intention of exceeding the speed limit. In as far as these two decisions are irreconcilable it is submitted that the latter should be followed. This type of conduct is in effect nothing more than a warning to others to obey the law”

Drivers fined for warning of speed trap | UK | News | Daily Express
(http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/326000/Drivers-fined-for-warning-of-speed-trap) But the force said that as well as issuing speeding fines they are also clamping down on road users who "flash" to warn others that officers are manning a nearby speed camera. Officers last week issued tickets to 23 drivers for speeding - while a further 20 motorists were fined for misuse of headlights.

[donnay]

Turn your lights on and off--rather than flashing them. That's the way we always did.

[angelatc]

The only place I have ever lived where this was common was Austin, and I never heard of anybody getting a ticket for it. But that was a long time ago, so the powers of the state have certainly expanded.

[roho76]

Why can't you flash your lights to get people driving too quickly to slow down?

For the same reason you can't feed the poor in NY, because its the to governments job.

[DamianTV]

Obstruction of revenue.

The dipshit police dont actually care about safety, only the power they feel from being the ones to punish others and collect a bounty.

This ^^^

[HOLLYWOOD]

So has anyone in Missouri track down who inserted this legislation and who voted for it?

That's where you start in tracking down the thieves and sellouts. Vote them out next round or rescind legislation.


Amazing how times have changed... State's Plutocracy Stagecoach Robbers that now wear badges.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_cmNIi_uN5-o/TUiwOBmUIDI/AAAAAAAAAxY/210bK4XLtOU/s1600/IH158348.jpg (http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=qARp22h3g2QrzM&tbnid=FtlDzRayqlDo9M:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcirclecadventures.blogspot.com%2F 2011%2F02%2Fstagecoach-robbers.html&ei=xRrvUaOQDsr0iQKQ64CoDw&bvm=bv.49641647,d.cGE&psig=AFQjCNEEdezlWVQbUZkb0LtX6tAlFApG5A&ust=1374710810743623)http://www.freedomsphoenix.com/Uploads/Graphics/338/12/338-1227225834-speed-trap-ahead.JPG (http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=LDoqdv_1SwyztM&tbnid=Ep9bbiGm_liXDM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.speechandprivacy.com%2F2012%2 F06%2Fwarning-others-about-speed-traps-is.html&ei=dxvvUd-GD4iCjALBk4GABQ&bvm=bv.49641647,d.cGE&psig=AFQjCNFSQv7L2Aux9bS_U_1Tm7p95czQcA&ust=1374711004081214)

[kathy88]

My dad was a driver's ed teacher. That was one of the first things he taught me.