[hansyes]

Okay.. I'll get straight to the point, I've got pulled over for flashing beams to warn of a speed trap. Fortunately, the cop didn't give me any ticket.. but I am still quite upset for the fact we aren't even allowed to help one another anymore. Has anyone had similar experience? I hope I'm not the only one who got picked on for doing something absolutely morally correct...

[McLuVan]

wth
maybe he was mistaken?
did he say sorry?

[hansyes]

Originally Posted by Valley_Boy

wth
maybe he was mistaken?
did he say sorry?

No never.. which is why i still can't forget about it..

actually it was she.. just gave me a long lecture of why i shouldn't do it and literally said i should be grateful to her for not getting any ticket

i usually just go.. oh well, meh.. but this was too bad that it's still in my brain

[BMdblU]

I saw something on the local news about this recently. One officer actually was pro beam flashing to warn of a speed trap. As far as he was concerned, the person flashing to warn, is on the same side as the police trapping. They are allowed to ticket you for it, but it's up to their discretion. Where abouts did this happen?

[continentalg5]

Yeah, I don't think cops like it when you try to expose their cover.

They want to bring money in to the state.

I personally will tell other drivers of a speed trap, taking caution that there isn't a cop ahead of me, after I have originally passed. Thankfully no cops have seen me do it.

[asdflkijd]

what a bunch gaywads. I'm still going to warn people if my radar goes off and I notice a cop ahead of me.

[Herknav]

Originally Posted by hansyes

I hope I'm not the only one who got picked on for doing something absolutely morally correct...

Wow, I am not sure that I agree with your assesment. Circumventing established law enforcement doesn't fall under the umbrella of morality. For that to be the case, the officer in the speed trap would have to be acting immorally, and that isn't the case.

Is it a dick move to pull you over for flashing your lights? Maybe. But it is pretty established action; I remember being pulled over 20 years ago for the same thing, but we got a ticket. So I would just count your blessings that you didn't get an annoying ticket.

[hansyes]

Originally Posted by BMdblU

I saw something on the local news about this recently. One officer actually was pro beam flashing to warn of a speed trap. As far as he was concerned, the person flashing to warn, is on the same side as the police trapping. They are allowed to ticket you for it, but it's up to their discretion. Where abouts did this happen?

I was coming out of Square One Mall onto some small road where i found her trying to get people. There is like a bit of downhill before streetlight.. it was very near Britannia Rd and Hurontario St.. i'll get back to u with precise detail when i go there again next time..

[calvino]

I don't flash my beams anymore to warn other drivers about a speed strap here in South FL people are stupid and don't get it they just flash you back. WTF...

[hansyes]

Originally Posted by Herknav

Wow, I am not sure that I agree with your assesment. Circumventing established law enforcement doesn't fall under the umbrella of morality. For that to be the case, the officer in the speed trap would have to be acting immorally, and that isn't the case.

Is it a dick move to pull you over for flashing your lights? Maybe. But it is pretty established action; I remember being pulled over 20 years ago for the same thing, but we got a ticket. So I would just count your blessings that you didn't get an annoying ticket.

but I am not entirely sure what I did is illegal in here..

I mean i was just flashing for oncoming traffic which i don't think it's illegal at all ...

[bobr2001]

so, do we warn speeders to slow down now so they won't get ticketed or do we not warn speeders, let them be caught for their infraction, pay a fine and think a bit about why they were stopped then maybe, just maybe, from then on drive safely possibly saving a life? morality is such a human thing!

[BMdblU]

Originally Posted by calvino

I don't flash my beams anymore to warn other drivers about a speed strap here in South FL people are stupid and don't get it they just flash you back. WTF...

haha so true. Most people don't get it. I would say 1/10 if that,

[GregL]

As BMdblU said, it was on the news very recently and in the papers, it's not illegal. If the officer did ticket you, it would be for something not entirely related; alternating headlights (meaning left to right), not flashing highbeams. Given all the media exposure I'm surprised they still have the audacity, at least in the short term, to try to pin this on motorists.

Read this: http://www.wheels.ca/newsFeatures/article/167046

[aznshrek88]

I was thinking about this system e90/bmw forums could start posting up as a national guide...maybe this is the time to mention or start it?

I was thinking we could communicate like pulling up to an e90 or behind and just flashing the fog lights once and a brake or 2 from the car ahead means, yea I'm e90post too or something like that. In regards to speeding, we could always try to warn each other with some sort of fog light system or maybe a loud honk... Just a thought maybe its stupid but I think it would be cool to know who's on forums and who isn't. The recent influx of e90's at SC here really make me wonder if anyone else is on the forums...

[BMWE90]

Good thing u didnt get a ticket. On another note, that chick is your sig is

[tintivilus]

Originally Posted by Herknav

Circumventing established law enforcement doesn't fall under the umbrella of morality.

How is this circumventing law enforcement? The point of the speed trap is ostensibly to make people slow down; warning of the speed trap does the same thing. It's just like when police departments put empty squad cars on the side of the road.

For the Police to say that the warning driver was circumventing law enforcement, they have to admit that their goal was revenue generation rather than public safety. That might get interesting politically.

[getInline]

If I ever get pulled over for flashing my lights it was to warn that oncoming driver to put his headlights on. In Canada daytime running lights are mandatory so I could be doing my civic duty day or night!

[TheAcAvenger]

Wow, I didn't even know that you could get a ticket for doing that. There's a highway in VA called "58" and through emporia, it's the worst speed trap in the state. But because its not a well travelled road, unsuspecting travellers are always getting picked off for going 5 over, so i throw them the signal.

Does anyone know if its considered a moving violation or not (aka points, insurance, etc?) If it is, I guess i'll stop, if not, it's a chance i'll probably continue to take.

[HappyG]

First and foremost, a law enforcement officer will not and in my opinion, should not "apologize" for pulling you over for any reason...it's their discretion and that's why the public puts trust and respect into that system.

As far as being told not to warn other citizens...well, I had a guy hit his brake lights several times one time on the freeway as I was going a bit fast. Naturally, I slowed down wondering wtf his problem was only to see a CHP vehicle about fifty yards up cruising in the 3rd lane. I was thankful as that would've been likely a ticket for my butt.

I agree it's a revenue generating tool, but the law is the law, and trying to make the streets safer by slowing down speeders doesn't seem like a horrible idea.
________
ON PORN

[ukthunderace]

Uhhh...the public puts trust and respect into that system? I wouldn't say that is the case these days...maybe 30 years ago.

Speed does not equal unsafe. Not paying attention to the conditions of the road and having proper situational awareness of traffic and hazards equals unsafe. Speed is easily quantifiable and measureable, hence, easily ticketable. Inattentive driving is not.

Lastly, many of you are pointing out that this officer (and speed traps in general I suppose) are there to slow people down. But the officer is hiding, trying to be sneaky, trying to trap people (speed trap...coincidence?). That officer is HOPING that there are going to be people speeding so they can get their grubby hands on some more of your money without having to raise taxes. If anything, the person flashing lights and warning of the speed trap is the more effective of the two "safety" measures!

[rrandyy]

Originally Posted by HappyG

First and foremost, a law enforcement officer will not and in my opinion, should not "apologize" for pulling you over for any reason...it's their discretion and that's why the public puts trust and respect into that system.

There are laws that state when you can be pulled over (as vague as they may be). It's not "up to their discretion". Remember, this is a democracy.

[ukthunderace]

Correction...it is a Republic. If it were a democracy, the majority would rule...we all know that isn't the case.