Warning by Flashing Headlights

[Roy Hersh]

The other morning, I was leaving home to drive my daughter 1 mile to school. As soon as we hit our local lake road, about 2-3 blocks from our home, I noticed a police cruiser hiding between two parked cars with a speed/radar gun pointing out. As soon as I was out of his sight line, I warned oncoming traffic by flashing my lights and oncoming drivers waved at me in thanks. I hate these types of "speed traps" and always appreciate when other motorists warn me too. My daughter asked if it was legal to do this and I told here that, "I honestly don't know, but likely it is illegal ... but lots of people do it."

Today I found this article, which declared that it was a Consititutional right to be able to flash one's headlights to communicate:

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/201 ... headlights

Do you do this? Do you think it is wrong to warn others? It would be great to hear your thoughts on this too.

[Andy Velebil]

Well, I don't know specific laws in Washington, but in California here is the applicable vehicle code that's been in effect since 1965.

V C Section 24409
Use of Multiple Beams

24409. Whenever a motor vehicle is being operated during darkness, the driver shall use a distribution of light, or composite beam, directed high enough and of sufficient intensity to reveal persons and vehicles at a safe distance in advance of the vehicle, subject to the following requirements and limitations:

(a) Whenever the driver of a vehicle approaches an oncoming vehicle within 500 feet, he shall use a distribution of light or composite beam so aimed that the glaring rays are not projected into the eyes of the oncoming driver.

The lowermost distribution of light specified in this article shall be deemed to avoid glare at all times regardless of road contour.

(b) Whenever the driver of a vehicle follows another vehicle within 300 feet to the rear, he shall use the lowermost distribution of light specified in this article.
Amended Ch. 37, Stats. 1965. Effective September 17, 1965.

this means you can't have high beams on within 500' of an approaching vehicle or follow a vehicle within 300' with your high beams on (this includes flashing them).

[Moses Botbol]

I don't think it's wrong and it's safer in my opinion than driver slamming on the brakes as soon as they see a police cruiser. I'll flash lights to oncoming vehicles if there is a speed trap, accident, hazard, or traffic enforcement.

[Eric Menchen]

So use your low beams if you are so inclined. I am not particularly inclined. I am, however, annoyed by the people that slow down when they see a cop. We have a lot of roads with 65 and 75 mph speed limits and (ignorant?) people slow down to 55 or less on some of these roads when they see a cop.

[Steve Pollack]

Well, I don't know specific laws in Washington, but in California here is the applicable vehicle code that's been in effect since 1965.

V C Section 24409
Use of Multiple Beams

24409. Whenever a motor vehicle is being operated during darkness, the driver shall use a distribution of light, or composite beam, directed high enough and of sufficient intensity to reveal persons and vehicles at a safe distance in advance of the vehicle, subject to the following requirements and limitations:

(a) Whenever the driver of a vehicle approaches an oncoming vehicle within 500 feet, he shall use a distribution of light or composite beam so aimed that the glaring rays are not projected into the eyes of the oncoming driver.

The lowermost distribution of light specified in this article shall be deemed to avoid glare at all times regardless of road contour.

(b) Whenever the driver of a vehicle follows another vehicle within 300 feet to the rear, he shall use the lowermost distribution of light specified in this article.
Amended Ch. 37, Stats. 1965. Effective September 17, 1965.

this means you can't have high beams on within 500' of an approaching vehicle or follow a vehicle within 300' with your high beams on (this includes flashing them).

Well, I'm not a police officer, but I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express last night. Andy, this appears to only apply "Whenever a motor vehicle is being operated during darkness", which means that a nitpicky officer in CA might be able to issue a citation for using high beams at night, but seems to have no case during daylight.

[Roy Hersh]

I don't flash the high beams, only turn on and off my regular lights. I'll do that in the day and also in the night time. Seems like the case in the article makes it seem like it was more of a first ammendment right of citizens to be able to communicate using their headlights (but do understand the need for prudence, not using high beams). Anyway, some day I am going to test this in my area, which has a ridiculous 35 mph speed limit, should be at least 40 if not 45, as it is the main artery for the entire community along a 12 mile stretch of road, parallel to our lake.

[Andy Velebil]

Steve,
Yes you are correct and forgive my lack of pointing that out in my earlier post.

[Andy Velebil]

I don't flash the high beams, only turn on and off my regular lights. I'll do that in the day and also in the night time. Seems like the case in the article makes it seem like it was more of a first ammendment right of citizens to be able to communicate using their headlights (but do understand the need for prudence, not using high beams). Anyway, some day I am going to test this in my area, which has a ridiculous 35 mph speed limit, should be at least 40 if not 45, as it is the main artery for the entire community along a 12 mile stretch of road, parallel to our lake.

I don't know how your state comes up with the limits. In Cali the speed is actually set by the drivers on that particular stretch of road. Which is established through a speed survey. While a bit complicated the VERY short version is the speed limit is set within a 5 mph range of the 85th percentile of surveyed vehicles driving that road. There can be some mitigating factors such as accident rates, reduced visibility, etc. So it is actually the drivers that end up setting it when they do the survey, which varies but about every 5-7 years here in Cali.

[Steve Pollack]

Andy, I would like to discuss this further over a good glass or two of Port!

[Andy Velebil]

Andy, I would like to discuss this further over a good glass or two of Port!

For sure...I'll shoot you an email

[Glenn E.]

I have fog lights, so I just flash those.