jeremysoca
New member
I do flash my high beams hoping it will come back to me some day saving my arse!
See A Cop...Do You Flash On-coming Traffic?
- Thread starter Thai
- Start date
The point of speed traps is not to issue tickets so much as it is to get people to slow down. An officer does not need to be issuing tickets to make traffic slow down. As soon as a motorist sees an officer on the side of the road, their reaction will be to slow down anyways. An officer writing someone a ticket will also make the rest of the motorists slow down. Flashing your high beams will get the other motorists to slow down as well. In all cases, the problem is solved.
The poor saps that get tickets are not the ones who are being taught a lesson. They're just being used so that the hundreds of other cars passing by will slow down.
That being said, how on earth could you get a speeding ticket these days in a 4runner? I've been driving at 55 (along with half the other SUVs on the road) lately, and there is no chance I'll be getting a ticket anytime soon.
I've never gotten a speeding ticket, and quite honestly, it's easy to do. Just go the speed limit and you'll save yourself a lot of hassles. The people that speed act as though the rules do not apply to them, and that the world really revolves around them.
That being said, I do not flash my high beams for speed traps. I could really care less. I reserve that for more important things such as animals in the road, or other hazards. I was on a trip recently, and a motorist coming the other way was flashing their high beams frantically. Sure enough, there was a pronghorn in the road. Without the heads up, it would have been ugly.
The poor saps that get tickets are not the ones who are being taught a lesson. They're just being used so that the hundreds of other cars passing by will slow down.
That being said, how on earth could you get a speeding ticket these days in a 4runner? I've been driving at 55 (along with half the other SUVs on the road) lately, and there is no chance I'll be getting a ticket anytime soon.
I've never gotten a speeding ticket, and quite honestly, it's easy to do. Just go the speed limit and you'll save yourself a lot of hassles. The people that speed act as though the rules do not apply to them, and that the world really revolves around them.
That being said, I do not flash my high beams for speed traps. I could really care less. I reserve that for more important things such as animals in the road, or other hazards. I was on a trip recently, and a motorist coming the other way was flashing their high beams frantically. Sure enough, there was a pronghorn in the road. Without the heads up, it would have been ugly.
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Mark86
Super Moderator
In my area, there is very little crime so the cops often hide and try to catch speeders. It all depends on my mood and if I feel that it is a speed trap. On the most part, lots of cars have warned me about upcoming cops. NJ is actually pretty good about that!
Just curious, is flashing your lights to warn somebody about a cop legal? I was talking to one of my cop friends and he told me that it could be classified as interfering with law enforcement.
Just curious, is flashing your lights to warn somebody about a cop legal? I was talking to one of my cop friends and he told me that it could be classified as interfering with law enforcement.
TechWrench
Senior Member
In NY, it is illegal to warn oncoming traffic about a speed trap. I will have to look up the specific traffic law, but I'm pretty sure about this. I remember some years ago there was a guy who had a thing for the locals in his area, and would look for speed traps and then park a ways up the road and sit with a sign in his window warning of the speed trap. He eventually got fined several times, and lost his case when it went to the state appeals court. The issue was boiled down to obstructing justice. Not sure about any other states.
034RUNNER
New member
I do, always have, always will.
People around my area don't seem to do it, in certain parts, and when I flash them, they don't seem to even notice! But hey, it is worth a shot, and what goes around, comes around. I've gotten the flashers quite a few times and thank goodness for it. I don't drive like a maniac by any means but I appreciate the flashers especially when I'm in my Cobra...the car is bright blue and loud, kind of attracts attention. In the 4Runner though...that thing is my lucky charm, KNOCK ON WOOD!
Anyways, yep I flash the brights and greatly appreciate when others do it!
People around my area don't seem to do it, in certain parts, and when I flash them, they don't seem to even notice! But hey, it is worth a shot, and what goes around, comes around. I've gotten the flashers quite a few times and thank goodness for it. I don't drive like a maniac by any means but I appreciate the flashers especially when I'm in my Cobra...the car is bright blue and loud, kind of attracts attention. In the 4Runner though...that thing is my lucky charm, KNOCK ON WOOD!
Anyways, yep I flash the brights and greatly appreciate when others do it!
Won't flash my HIDs
A number of things come to mind regarding this practice. Since I put HIDs on my high-beams, I won't flash them. One, because it takes some time for them to warm up and two, because I don't think it is good to do to the ballasts to blast them on and off quickly.
A second point is that rather than flashing headlights, why not use the 'hazards'? I noticed people in Europe ticking on their hazards when a car was stalled on the roadside or they were passing a slow moving vehicle. Worked pretty well in my opinion. I have taken to doing it here when passing wildlife, stalled cars on the shoulder, etc. (within sight of the occurence or relatively close if over a hill or around a bend).
Thirdly, I do not understand the point of speeding, particularly in an urban setting. So you get to the next light sooner? That being said, we all have busy lives and need to get to that next appointment, event, ball game but even so, why not just plan to leave 10 minutes early? Maybe I'm just getting old and cranky but someone obviously thought a speed limit was a good idea.
A number of things come to mind regarding this practice. Since I put HIDs on my high-beams, I won't flash them. One, because it takes some time for them to warm up and two, because I don't think it is good to do to the ballasts to blast them on and off quickly.
A second point is that rather than flashing headlights, why not use the 'hazards'? I noticed people in Europe ticking on their hazards when a car was stalled on the roadside or they were passing a slow moving vehicle. Worked pretty well in my opinion. I have taken to doing it here when passing wildlife, stalled cars on the shoulder, etc. (within sight of the occurence or relatively close if over a hill or around a bend).
Thirdly, I do not understand the point of speeding, particularly in an urban setting. So you get to the next light sooner? That being said, we all have busy lives and need to get to that next appointment, event, ball game but even so, why not just plan to leave 10 minutes early? Maybe I'm just getting old and cranky but someone obviously thought a speed limit was a good idea.
Interesting day yesterday , I got to shoot radar with Milw. County Sheriff dept. off an overpass bridge. It is a dangerous area and they had a speed zone enforcement going on , 8 squads lined up picking people off as the deputy with the radar gun called down to the cars. No I dont get off on that but it was an interesting day. Spent time shooting and calling to cars then time in a squad .
It was kind of comical listening tom people complain on how the latest and greatest state of the art radar detectors didn't go off until after they were shot. People are just so suckered in by those things. They only work if a squad has his radar set up a certain way otherwise they are useless.
One guy in a Benz was so ticked off that his radar never went off but just for 1 little bleep and he got pulled over a half mile down the road . ( he was the one clocked at 84 in a 55 ). He said I paid $$$$ for this state of the art detector 2 weeks ago , and has got 2 tickets already . We tried to explain how they only work in certain circumstances he claims BS and said it was so unfair !!! Well if it was BS why have you already got 2 tickets in 2 weeks .
It was just an interesting day , also stopped a boatload of unsafe looking semi's .
And I always flash my lights to help others avoid a ticket ....... and slow down !!!
It was kind of comical listening tom people complain on how the latest and greatest state of the art radar detectors didn't go off until after they were shot. People are just so suckered in by those things. They only work if a squad has his radar set up a certain way otherwise they are useless.
One guy in a Benz was so ticked off that his radar never went off but just for 1 little bleep and he got pulled over a half mile down the road . ( he was the one clocked at 84 in a 55 ). He said I paid $$$$ for this state of the art detector 2 weeks ago , and has got 2 tickets already . We tried to explain how they only work in certain circumstances he claims BS and said it was so unfair !!! Well if it was BS why have you already got 2 tickets in 2 weeks .
It was just an interesting day , also stopped a boatload of unsafe looking semi's .
And I always flash my lights to help others avoid a ticket ....... and slow down !!!
Thai said:
Anyone smuggling drugs, contraband, or illegal immigrants is probably not going to be speeding. Cops usually find these cars when other things arent right. IE: rental car driven by people that dont look like theyre on vacation, the car being reported stolen, fake registration tags, awkward behavior when they see the cop, etc. I wouldnt be too worried about accidentally helping let the terrorists win by letting traffic know about a speed trap. If anything youll prob make the contraband traffickers panic and do something stupid in front of the cops.
sl0annuggets
New member
There is nothing going on in my area. but we supposedly have the highest dui per capita in the US. Its not because were all drunks its because the cops in middletown and portsmouth pull just about anyone over for anything. they make things up in their reports on why they pull you over and then automatically ask you to get out of the car. its all about getting a bigger budget to pay for more equipment these towns dont need.... they are building a new 19 million dollar police station across from the high school which is falling apart.. its disgusting.
I usually do because I've been saved a couple times by others flashing. One time I flashed a speeding car about a Highway Patrol doing radar about half a mile down the road, except as we passed I noticed it was a Fire Chief going to the fire about a mile down the road... whoops...
808BMW
New member
I flash for speedtraps. Another favorite of mine is a seatbelt checkpoint they have here. There is a parking lot about 15 - 20 ft. above the road with a railing, and a bunch of palm trees.
The cops will actually hide in the trees and radio to a group around the corner. I say it's up to the person if they want to wear it or not, everyone knows the consequences.
The cops will actually hide in the trees and radio to a group around the corner. I say it's up to the person if they want to wear it or not, everyone knows the consequences.
Jeff Kleb
New member
808BMW said:
You're right on the money about that, except for children. If you have passengers under the age of 16, there is no excuse for them not to be belted.
Here in VA, seat belt violations are a "secondary offense" - which means that you can get cited for it, but only after being stopped for some other infraction (headlight out, speeding, expired tag, etc., etc.).
Even so, it should be a "free choice" issue for adults as to whether or not they want to wear it. Oh, I ALWAYS WEAR MINE because it is the prudent thing to do.
I even feel the same about riding motorcycles. I never ride one, but believe that if you want to ride without a helmet, it is YOUR CHOICE. Go ahead - be an organ donor if you wish.
BTW, Pennsylvania requires seat belts to be worn at all times in a car - but you can ride a motorcycle sans helmet if you wish. That just seems a bit inconsistent.
P.S. Keep flashing for speed traps. I wish more people were nice enough to do that!
A/V1
New member
Thai said:
I guess I never thought of it that way. However I always have tried to flash oncoming traffic. That is until I flashed an oncoming Sheriff in a Durango on our way back up from Shreveport. He didn't turn around to pull me over, but that's made me NOT do it lately. I've always heard they will ticket you for doing so.
shawnstcyr
New member
I do more often than not. As you know, we have a whole lot of wide open spaces here in Texas. A little extra speed is sometimes helpful in the WEST Texas area. However, as a volunteer fireman, I hate it when it goes horribly wrong.
