THANKS FOR THE FLASH STRANGER

3ponyshow · Jul 4, 2010

To the original post, unfortunately, blinking seems to be a lost art. Too bad. I always thought that being alerted to anything of concern up ahead was good driving. Many states consider it's illegal, but I never let that stop me. While I don't condone speeding per se, I do consider driving courtesy as a high priority. Driving slow in the passing lane is far more dangerous which is the norm out here in the west. If you can alert the oncoming traffic to anything that requires attention, you should do so.

trombonedemon · Jul 4, 2010

State Trooper posted up on my off-ramp this morning, I am not giving any heads-up for anybody. 1. Tax payers are wasting there money if law-enforcement can't do there job. 2. People around here drive like they just robbed a liqueor store. 3. Your lawyer probaly just got paid more then the ticket's worth. 4. You don't have anything worth while to fight for like; pollution problems, racism, and things that will eventually benefit man-kind. Trying to stick it to the "Man" will eventually get you stuck!

Moon · Jul 6, 2010

erkme73 said:
To answer your question more directly, let me ask you one: If me blinking my lights causes people to slow down to the speed limit, and pay more attention, does that not make the roads safer? Or do the police and their revenue generating methods have a monopoly on the practice?

That isn't going to make them better drivers, that's only going to get them out of a ticket. What do you think will teach somebody to be a better (and safer) driver, getting out of a ticket at the last second, or an actual ticket in which they pay money?

"Monopoly"

Should have let Darwin take control, instead of paying a lawyer, and wasting time in court.

streethorse · Jul 6, 2010

Moon said:
That isn't going to make them better drivers, that's only going to get them out of a ticket. What do you think will teach somebody to be a better (and safer) driver, getting out of a ticket at the last second, or an actual ticket in which they pay money?

"Monopoly"

Should have let Darwin take control, instead of paying a lawyer, and wasting time in court.

Being aware of your surroundings and anticipating trouble does make you a better and safer driver. Too many drivers are listening to thier F,d up
Ipod music and text messaging. Seeing someone flash thier lights and knowing
what it could mean is a positive thing. You sure dont need to give the cops
a load of cash just to learn a lesson. Be aware at all times while driving.

erkme73 · Jul 6, 2010

That may very well be the case - but that's a side debate. My issue is the bigger principal of civil liberties - guaranteed by our Constitution.

We may not like what many people spout out under the 1st Amendment - but it's their right. Soldiers are dying for our rights/way of life. For us to allow government to strip them away is simply unacceptable.

Maxpowers · Jul 6, 2010

I don't really care if people flash their lights or not. There's really no way to stop everyone from doing it.

In the same regard, how would you feel if you flashed your lights at someone and they slow down only for a few seconds. Then 10 mins down the road they hit your mom driving and kill them because they were going too fast...

Just something to keep in the back of your mind.

streethorse · Jul 6, 2010

Maxpowers said:
I don't really care if people flash their lights or not. There's really no way to stop everyone from doing it.

In the same regard, how would you feel if you flashed your lights at someone and they slow down only for a few seconds. Then 10 mins down the road they hit your mom driving and kill them because they were going too fast...

Just something to keep in the back of your mind.

Right..... that could happen. So we all need to drive faster so we
dont hit Mom.

erkme73 · Jul 6, 2010

It's very easy to get caught up in a debate about the merits of being able to communicate freely. There are always going to be reasons why the content of some communication might be damaging (i.e. spiteful, racist, political, etc) but if we applied a muzzle on all the forms of communication because they could be harmful, we'd live in in Iran.

To take your POV a step further, what if there is someone who desperately needs a police officer, but their cell phone battery is dead. They don't know where the closest cop is, but because I flashed, they know he's around the corner, and they're able to find him quicker. Hypothetical situations can be bent to either side of the content argument.

fast97gt · Jul 6, 2010

hypothetical situations are what they are, theyre hypothetical. but while im agreeing with erkme, im also disagreeing. if the "illegal use of high beems" is considered a non moving violation; NC laws are like 99.9% the same as FL laws, non moving violations dont affect DL points nor insuarence points. so i personally wouldve much rather paid the $100. instead you paid a lawyer how much??? besides with what you knew or know now you can fight it your self. also warning people of law enforcement is also practiced by other branchs of law enforcement around these parts.

ive had a sheriffs deputy flash me because of a state trooper a few weeks ago. now does the deputy have a personal vandeta against the state man, i doughbt it, more then likely he does it off duty from time to time and i think its out of habit. so agreeing to disagree, slow down and pay attention, also warn others hazards of ahead. warning other drivers of law enforcement or emergency vehicles.

theres times ive been flashed and with some of these back roads that are tight and narrow the idotic drivers beeing pulled is to dumb to find the next road to pull off on, or to go to the nearist church parking lot (im in the bible belt) theres a church every half mile hear which one i attend from time to time. anyway they could be warning you of an idiot or of a potential accident.

trombonedemon · Jul 6, 2010

County brownie warning you of the State Trooper huh? Now I know why Departmental Law Enforcemant co-operation is weak at best in NC.

fast97gt · Jul 6, 2010

aw man are you right there trombone, the county i live in? over half the sheriffs deputys are still wet behind the ear. im 29 now 2yrs ago at the age of 27, (incase some cant do simple math) i was pulled by a dang 25yr old who had been on the "force" for a year. he gave me a verble warning for my turn signals being white not the amber color they were suppost to be. i gave him the spill about me being a state vehicle safety and obd2 vehicle inspector, and the front corner markers; ie turn signals can be any color other then RED to pass inspection. they can even be BLUE as long as there not strobes. oh there still white and he has not pulled me since...NC law enforcement is not the greatest, you got doughnut junkies, or the acne faced nerd on a power trip with a badge and gun around here. maybe 10 of 30 that come out of training are good. but hell thats just me. then theres the 40 somethin yr olds going through a mid life chrisis getting the charger as a patrol car, everytime they take off the dang pistons are hanging out of the exhaust pipes.

S&B · Jul 7, 2010

flashings fine untill your flash helps a child molester who just kidnapped a child turn around and avoid police.

erkme73 · Jul 7, 2010

Using that logic, why not give police the right to enter anyones private property without warrant or cause, because there is a possibility they might catch a child molester. what? are you against that type of civil liberties infraction? but c'mon, it could help a molested child... doesn't seem so logical, yet this is exactly the same issue. Surrender your right to freely communicate because it might help someone.

fast97gt · Jul 7, 2010

S&B said:
flashings fine untill your flash helps a child molester who just kidnapped a child turn around and avoid police.

thre goes that hypothetical situation crap again, i think you and all the others on this subject have something against us flashers, what did yall not get flashed when the MAN was around the bend and got busted? sounds like it to me...

erkme73 · Aug 29, 2011

Class action suit says Florida Highway Patrol illegally tickets motorists who warn others about speed traps | wtsp.com

Posting this to a very old thread here since there several "I got this ticket too" posts. Anyone who has gotten one is recommended to contact the attorney of the driver in this story (maybe through the reporter's contact info?)

Tampa, Florida -- When the Florida Highway Patrol pulls someone over on the highway, it's usually because they were speeding.

But Eric Campbell was pulled over and ticketed while he was driving the speed limit.

Campbell says, "I was coming up the Veterans Expressway and I notice two Florida Highway Patrol Cars sitting on the side of the road in the median, with lights off."

Campbell says he did what he always does: flashed his lights on and off to warn drivers coming from the other direction that there was speed trap ahead.

According to Campbell, 60 seconds after passing the trooper, "They were on my tail and they pulled me over."

Campbell says the FHP trooper wrote him a ticket for improper flashing of high beams. Campbell says the trooper told him what he had done was illegal.

But later Campbell learned that is not the case. He filed a class action suit which says "Florida Statue 316.2397" -- under which Campbell was cited -- "does not prohibit the flashing of headlights as a means of communications, nor does it in any way reference flashing headlights or the use of high beams."

However, the FHP trooper who wrote the ticket either didn't know or didn't care. "You could tell in his voice he was upset," Campbell says. "He was professional, he wasn't rude... but you could tell he was irritated."

However, the lawsuit says the FHP is well aware they are wrongfully applying the state law and they are doing it as a means of generating revenue. In 2005, a court order was even issued saying the state law doesn't prohibit the flashing of vehicle headlights.

Campbell isn't the only one. Since 2005, FHP records show more than 10,429 drivers have been cited under the statute.

In addition to seeking the refund of the $100 ticket, the lawsuit seeks damages in excess of $15,000.

What's that costing you?

If each person illegally cited was awarded $15,000 that would be $156,435,000 in damages if the suit is successful. Then you would throw in at least another $1,042,900 in ticket refunds, all because it appears troopers don't like motorists warning others about speed traps.

Campbell says he felt as if the trooper thought it was a personal affront. According to Campbell, the trooper did not like the fact somebody was ratting him out.

The Florida Highway Patrol says it can't comment because of the pending lawsuit.

Campbell says FHP had no right to ticket him or anyone under the current law and he adds the agency is not being honest when it says it doesn't write tickets to increase revenue or punish people, but rather to get the motorist to slow down on the highway. If that were true, Campbell says the FHP should be delighted with him, because drivers did slow down before troopers could give them a ticket.

The suit evolved out the fact that Campbell says "I don't like what the government is dong especially now when most people have a hard time affording gas and now they have to defend themselves against a made up charge that doesn't exist."

The state will have to come up with the money for damages if the suit is successful, and guess where the money is coming from: your taxes.

Moon · Sep 2, 2011

And if you mind your own damn business, you won't have to deal with any bs. If you get caught speeding, your own damn fault.

sneaky98gt · Sep 2, 2011

erkme73 said:
Class action suit says Florida Highway Patrol illegally tickets motorists who warn others about speed traps | wtsp.com

Posting this to a very old thread here since there several "I got this ticket too" posts. Anyone who has gotten one is recommended to contact the attorney of the driver in this story (maybe through the reporter's contact info?)

That's frickin awesome. I know someone who got a ticket like that a while back, and I think it's BS.

I wish they'd take the money out of the funding for the FHP, but we know that'll never happen.

And that crap has gotten more and more frequent up here in NC, the LEOs writing garbage tickets only to generate revenue. I have a friend who drives a truck that was pulled to check the weight, which is regular practice. Well, the officer weighed him and said he was several thousand pounds over, but he had the scale ticket from the quarry he just left showing that he was NOT over-weight. The officer said that there was no way his scales were wrong, and proceeded to write him the ticket anyway. Then the officer told him that if he had a problem with it, he could file a complaint with [someone] higher up and possibly get it dropped. Well, my friend filed the complaint, and only then did he find out that there is NO way to get out of the ticket if you file a formal complaint. Friggin officer KNEW that that's what would happen, and basically sealed the deal (and a $1000+ ticket) by telling him to file a complaint.

Friggin ridiculous. I've always been one to tend to side with law enforcement, but when this type of stuff is becoming commonplace, it's getting a little out of hand.

bradfier · Sep 2, 2011

Erkme73 – Judging from your name and post history you like troll forums and vent, which is fine however It helps if you understand the first amendment of your constitution.

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

It DOES NOT allow you to say whatever you want, Use high beams to flash and “communicate” to another and so on.
what it DOES DO is protect you from Federal, State, or Local municipalities from creating laws which explicitly suppress your speech against the government.

I find it truly amazing that so many people see it as the Police Officer’s fault for issuing a citation when in fact it was your action which facilitated his reaction. You broke the law, not the Officer.

GENERATING REVENUE…

I get paid roughly $24.00 per hour, and work 12 hour shifts. In my department it is suggested we run a department detail i.e speed trap 1 hour per week with 2 vehicle stops in that hour. (we are not mandated to issue a citation) During my 12 hour shift I average 2 citations per day, one of which I use as my department detail.

The average speeding citation is around 15mph over the posted speed and as follows: Fine:$60.00 , EMS:$10.00 , MCARE:$40.00 , Cost:$35.50 , JCPAT:$10.00 = Total $155.50

Of that my department gets ½ the Fine = $30.00, If I write 2 citations my department gets $60.00 if they are speeding citations, for most other moving infraction citations such as red light, stop sign, ect. The fine is $25.00 and the department gets $12.50

SO… If I am paid $288.00 per day and generate a revenue of $60.00 per day, someone please explain how this is an effective revenue generating program…

O.P. The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania has ruled that flashing one's high beams during the day to warn of speed traps is legal. However at night it is a violation because high beams are to be turned off within 50ft of an approaching vehicle, and why my department sits on both sides of the highway.

sneaky98gt · Sep 2, 2011

bradfier said:
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

It DOES NOT allow you to say whatever you want,

Exactly. That right ends when your words or actions endanger someone else.

Use high beams to flash and “communicate” to another and so on.

This ^^ is not endangering others (during the daytime), and I therefore don't see what the problem is with it. As mentioned in the article, if it REALLY is about the safety of others and them following the law, and isn't about making money through tickets, you should be happy; because of the flashers, people are slowing down and obeying the law without having to waste your time. 'Splain that one to me.

You broke the law, not the Officer.

You see, there's the rub. According to that article/lawyer, there is no law against it. IF that's the case (I don't know if it is or not, or where to look it up), then the policeman (an officer of the LAW) should have known that LAW. BUT, he wrote a ticket anyway. That tells me that it was either a)to generate revenue, or b)because the cop has a small ego and was pissed off that someone may have gotten away from him.

GENERATING REVENUE…

I get paid roughly $24.00 per hour, and work 12 hour shifts. In my department it is suggested we run a department detail i.e speed trap 1 hour per week with 2 vehicle stops in that hour. (we are not mandated to issue a citation) During my 12 hour shift I average 2 citations per day, one of which I use as my department detail.

The average speeding citation is around 15mph over the posted speed and as follows: Fine:$60.00 , EMS:$10.00 , MCARE:$40.00 , Cost:$35.50 , JCPAT:$10.00 = Total $155.50

Of that my department gets ½ the Fine = $30.00, If I write 2 citations my department gets $60.00 if they are speeding citations, for most other moving infraction citations such as red light, stop sign, ect. The fine is $25.00 and the department gets $12.50

SO… If I am paid $288.00 per day and generate a revenue of $60.00 per day, someone please explain how this is an effective revenue generating program…

Can I ask what type of law enforcement you are in? Town/city? SHP?

I know quite a few town cops back home, and they rarely (if ever) issue traffic tickets. On the other hand, the State Troopers....they write tickets 12 hours a day. You can't tell me that they aren't making a LOT more than $60 a day. And the DOT troopers (who stop the trucks)...I mean, an average overweight ticket is what, $400? They're tacking quite a few of those a day, plus the usual stuff like "improper equipment", "improper tie-down", etc., all of which are in the hundreds of dollars range. Those guys are generating money in the thousands per day range.

BUT, we're still missing the big picture here. It's not at all about revenue minus pay/day, that's got nothing to do with it. Law enforcement is ALREADY paid for through taxes; if none of them wrote a single ticket, they'd still get paid because it is a public service provided via our tax money. Every dime that is collected via traffic tickets is sent directly to the state's treasury. Think of it as a bonus.

Sonic04GT · Sep 2, 2011

I got a $166 ticket recently by Florida Highway Patrol for passing in the HOV lane around 4pm. When I was driving in the left lane, every single person that drove by me in the HOV lane had only one person in the car. Hey, let's **** with the guy driving the bright blue Mustang!

Fortunately my mother knows a FHP officer because she works at a trauma center and realizing the bull****, he got me out of it. I guess that was my one freebie.

$166 for using an EMPTY HOV lane? "When you come around the corner like that we can't tell if you've been in the lane for 2 seconds or 2 miles so we have to give you a ticket." Gimme a break...You don't have to do crap, dick.

THANKS FOR THE FLASH STRANGER

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