Sued in a class action lawsuit now. Getting pulled over for flashing your headlights is illegal which is news to me.
In New York, headlight flashing is not illegal. New York Vehicle and Traffic Law Section 375 [3] requires that headlamps “shall be operated so that dazzling light does not interfere with the driver of the approaching vehicle”.[28] In 1994, New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division held that flipping or flicking high beams at approaching vehicles is insufficient to cause the “dazzling lights” prohibited under New York Vehicle and Traffic Law Section 375 [3].[29] In 2009, the New York Supreme Court held that the flashing of lights alone is not a violation of New York Vehicle and Traffic Law Section 375 [3], that stopping a vehicle based upon that is illegal, and all evidence gather as a result of the illegal stop should be suppressed.[30]
dont forget too that in the drivers manual you get when studying to take your permit test it says that one of the ways to communicate to other drivers is to flash your headlights.
they tell you TO do it.
I thought flashing the lights to warn other people was a thing of the past anyway. 99% of people on the road now are selfish pricks who couldn’t care less about helping out their fellow motorists. When I first started driving you’d see multiple people flash to warn you on the 90, now it’s surprising if you see one.
I see it every now and then but I always signal people to cops ahead. I usually wait till I am out of sight from the cop before I flash lights because I thought it was illegal.
From what I remember it is illegal to signal to them about the cop being parked shooting radar. But I wait till I’m out of site or I flash my fog lights. I also go as far to show the lowering sign with my hand to slow down. I’m sure you guys get what I mean with that.
it depends on the street for me… when im on the highway i dont flash people to warn them, but on back roads when cops are hidden in snky places ill warn the first couple of people that pass me
A few months ago locally…there was a EC Sheriff set up with radar in a trap. After passing him I flicked my lights at other cars coming into town. Just as I finished…a state trooper came over the next hill and seen it. Pulled me over and gave me an Unauthorized Lights/Improper Color ticket. This statute covers mimicking emergency vehicles. It was just something bogus to throw at me. I showed up on the court date…he didn’t …it was dismissed after a lengthy wait after hours and the court trying to contact the trooper at the barricks. Definite loss for NY. I now flick more often and just keep a better eye ahead. Some cops I’ve talked to don’t mind flicking lights. It does cause people to check their speed and be more aware of their surroundings…so if safety is a goal…
I used to do this when I was new to driving, but I can now group myself as one of the “selfish pricks” that just worries about himself. In today’s world of lawsuit happy pussies, I wouldn’t even want to take a chance that some idiot crashes after I flick my lights at him and he tries to sue me. (Crazy scenario, but this is how I think). Not to mention, the idiots in the city you hear about once every few years that do the old school gang initiation with the headlights and then shoot at people or kick the shit out of them. If I saw something crazy like a washed out road ahead I would warn other drivers, but I’m not driving around trying to babysit people reminding them to slow down or turn their lights on. If you’re going to speed, accept the consequences and “protect” yourself from it as best as possible (i.e. radar detector/laser jammer). Besides, I would rather see people that are speeding and driving like a dick get ticketed.
This. There is a time and a place to be an asshole, and it involves being somewhere that you 99.9% of the time wont get in trouble.
Yeah, because this forum is for a bunch of high school kids who get pissed they cant smoke on property or eat lunch outside.
News flash, being responsible is much cooler than trying to impress a bunch of grab ass people on a local car forum.
Want to impress them? build something cool.
I flash my lights at people who are fucking stupid and driving around at night with no lights on, not even noticing it. Half the time they dont even turn em on after that.
I always thought warning of a cop like that was illegal. Hmph, good to know.
I am a selfish prick, unless I’m driving with a group of cars to a meet or something. I’m usually the only one with a radar detector, and I’ll flash my brake lights on z highway.
I flash. I have a V1, not everyone is as lucky. It’s common courtesy. If I get pulled over, I was testing my high beams and I dare you to prove beyond a reasonable doubt otherwise.
There were gang initiations somewhere a while ago where they would drive around in a vehicle with their high beams on, headlights off, etc. and if you flashed them they would chase you down, beat you up and wreck your car. It was on the news.
