Is it against the law to flash your lights to on coming traffic to warn of a police car ahead?
by 
Payton Parker
ANSWERS: 31
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yes
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I doubt you can find anyone that has been ticketed for this and I'm not too sure most would understand why you are flashing your lights. As to it being against the law I would guess it might be in some states but not federal.
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So thats what the signal means in the US. What are they warning the people for? Speeding? Whatever it may be, I don't think there is anything illegal there.
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Dont see how it would be brought against you.. so go for it.
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I think that law enforcement can charge you with "obstruction of justice", yes...if they want to be bothered, want to teach you a lesson...or just didn't get laid the night before, yes. I have, on rare occasion, seen a cop car in view ahead when I've flashed my lights...and thought to myself, "Oh, sh%t, he's gonna pull my a$$ over!" But it's never happened...yet. :-) +5 ...and what's with you and the "flashing" questions t'day, pervert?!? :-)
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You took my answer and turned into a question, nothing else in mind? :)
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It is not illegal per se, but you could be aiding a felon in evading the police. It's cool if no one speeds by then the officer can keep playing solitaire and enjoying the A/C, but he may not be sitting there to catch speeders and that is the thing no one takes into consideration. Waiting for drug runners, bank robbers, murderers, rapists, kid nappers, etc and someone flashes their lights warning them that there are cops ahead so they detour on a side street. I'm all for speeders slowing down, but that might not be the only thing they are guilty of and you just told them where not to go.
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It is a criminal offence if caught, in Australia.
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Umm I don't think so.
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Yes it is
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I don't know about that, but while driiving through Texas I had a driver coming towards me and flash his headlights. I was doing 80mph (1995 ford escort wagon) and I started to slow down to that wonderful 55 limit. My MOther said "Why are you slowing?" I replied "did you see the guy flash his headlights?" "Yes" "There's a cop ahead" "You sure?" "Yep" Crested the hill and there's not just one, but THREE cops just sitting there..Waiting like vultures..I smiled and went on, my mother chuckled. I flashed three other drivers as I left..They too slowed down. The cops lost some bucks that day!!
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I wouldn't do it where a cop could see me do it because I'm not sure if it is illegal but if the whole point of the cop sitting in wait to catch speeders or to intimidate by their presence people into obeying the speed limits, then flashing my headlights to warn people of "cop ahead" so that they will slow down seems to me I'm HELPING people to obey the law by driving the speed limit, doesn't it?
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I really don't think so and do it myself alla time, but I'd bet if caught they'd find something else to hassle you about. ;-)
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Yes its obstruction of justice
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I know its illegal here in Pennsylvania
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here in Australia it is ... but its only that because your stopping them from revenue raising and they have to get their quotas up!, but this don't stop me from doing it
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It varies from state to state county to county city to city et cetera, where I live it is considered obstruction of justice, and/or aiding and abetting, depending on the circumstance. That is if they see you do it ;)
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People flash their lights to warn of a speed trap in the UK too.I think its irresponsible because speeding especially in a built up restricted area's is dangerous and could cost someones life as it very often does.
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It should be. Too many careless speeders and not enough cops as it is...
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My father calls it a Blue Law, which means they can enforce if the cops feel they should, it's not illegal to do it but if a cops sees you if he wants he can give you a ticket
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I live in Australia, and it is illegal here. That doesn't stop anyone though.
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Probably depends where you live, but most likely you can get into some trouble. Besides, I don't understand why reasonable people are assisting speeders, uninsured drivers or whatever happens to be on the road avoid a well deserved ticket. I know someone who did this very thing, and the policeman - who was going the opposite direction - turned around and came after her and read the riot act. It could possibly be construed as interfering with the law. Don't get yourself into a situation on the road because you did something stupid.
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Nope. How can they prove it? And who says you can't flash your lights? There is no law against flashing your headlights.
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yes it is, if you flash your lights at a drunk driver or something like that then you just helped them get away with it.
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In Arizona you can......We even have people make signs and put them on boxes on the side of the road saying their is a police car ahead. Its legal out here.
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Yes. its interfering with the police and is an arrestable offense.
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It's different in the states. It is illegal where I live.
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you won't go to jail for it but can be cited in most states
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It is not illegal as such here, but it is a good way to have your car inspected for any equipment violations.
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Somebody made an interesting point about the possiblity that you could be aiding a serious felon. Well true, but what if it was somebody that you knew, and you knew that they aren't doing anything so bad. What if they WERE, in fact felons, but they were only going a little over the speed limits? Remember, in this unforgiving, all incarcerating country, a person who did their time for some crime commited 20 years ago, is still considered a felon, even if they have NEVER done anything since. Yeah, I can see somebody being charged with obstruction of justice because he/she warned somebody who was carrying large quantities of marijuana - to a smokeout where people will peacfully. congregate, and have a good time. But warning some- body who is delivering a large quantity of alcohol- to a drinkout where people will get puke sloppy and obnoxious, and get into fights, and kill people in wrecks trying to drive home, is A-OK, because, and only because that person is not considered to be trafficking in an "illegal" controlled-substance.
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i have done this for years and never had a problem +5
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