Is it illegal to flash your headlights to warn oncoming drivers of a speedtrap?

Question

I live in Virginia. I have heard that there is no such regulation in the Virginia Code. I got pulled over for doing it once, but not ticketed.

Answer 1

FREEDOM OF SPEECH!!!

Sure they can pull you over, and give you all kinds of hell for it, and they may even have a local ordinance against it, but it would be up to the cop to prove why you flashed your head lights. "Sorry officer, it was an accident. I accidently pulled it while trying to use my blinker to make a safe lane change, sir."

I do it to warn motorists of ANYthing. If there's a traffic stall, or something on the road for oncomming traffic. Anything that makes them wake up and start paying attention for a second, and possibly slow down.

BTW, the official statement as to why the police give out tickets is to slow traffic down. If by flashing your lights you are achieving the same goal, then why should the cops care? Because tickets are a money making enterprise, and I'm very glad that Texas has legislated out the old speed trap towns. I wish other states would follow.

Answer 2

It's not illegal. An incident actually went before the Supreme Court--involving the same matter. The court decided it is no different than going into the local store and telling the clerk there is a cop running radar down the street.
It is a violation of freedom of speech.

Answer 3

The police will attempt to furnish you a cost tag for something that they might. The states and cities want extra money. human beings have been flashing their headlights to warn of police working radar for many an prolonged time. Its no longer as hardship-loose anymore because of the fact drivers are actually not as courteous now days as they as quickly as have been. human beings purely care approximately themselves. basically like back in the day whilst the driving force drawing close in the back of you became into vacationing speedier than you it became into courteous to omit to enable them to pass. I nevertheless flash my lighting fixtures fixtures to warn different drivers of the fee traps and that i in specific cases see some different drivers nevertheless doing an identical! i do no longer velocity and most of the drivers that I flash are actually not rushing the two. I nevertheless provide them a heads up. for people who say it is obstructing justice you're stupid! i'm assisting save a factor of the line secure. by making use of warning those different drivers it makes them decelerate ( in the event that they are rushing ) and force with greater warning!

Answer 4

I,m not sure if it is legal or not but think of it like this

a) the cop is obviously waiting to pull someone over for speeding
and you prevented him from doing that and he didn't make his
quota for the month

or

b) he could be setup waiting for a criminal from a another county
trying to escape and you just warned that person that a cop is
up ahead and then the criminal gets away....

so if you flash your lights to let someone know that their headlights aren't on or you flash them because you can't see the road at night then that's okay but if you flash them to warn that cops are ahead you are taking a risk of messing up a sting and that's not cool, the cops are here for our protection and if we get in the way of doing their jobs how are they going to protects us...you have to look at it both ways...

Answer 5

In california it's not illegal, but it's kind of a moot point, because no one would know why you were doing it! Also for those answers that say it's a rite of passage for a gang member to murder someone who blinks their brights, well that's a really old tall tale... It's been around for years, here's the website with the origins and the reality.:

Answer 6

While it may not be in the Traffic Code an officer would have the option of arresting you for obstruction of justice. It is unlikely but possible so try to give your warnings (and DO keep giving them!) after you are out of the officers sight.

Answer 7

Sorry I don't know this answer- but I have often wondered the same thing myself- I will be keeping an eye on the answers to see if anyone knows for sure- and especially in New Jersey. I do this all the time and don't want to get into trouble simply by trying to help someone else out.

Answer 8

if u do it to a cop, u can get pulled over and warned possibly even ticketed. but and if a cop sees u do it oncomers im sure u can get ticketed. but each legislature is different.

Answer 9

Call your local DPS office or a local Sheriffs Dept.... tell them you are new to the area, just moved from ...(snother state or overseas) and it was custom to do such a thing and wanted to knkow ifthe custom was local as well or if it was frowned up/against the law....

FYI - we do it here in Texas ALL THE TIME

Answer 10

TN - I am not sure if it is illegal but I do it all the time, but my Honda can flash the highbeams with out affecting the break lights. I think it would be hard to prove.