Is there a constitutionally protected right to flash your lights at oncoming traffic, in order to warn them of an approaching speed trap? There’s remarkably few rulings out there on this issue, and a quick search reveals very little guidance from the judiciary and the legal community. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t a common occurrence.
I hear about it from time-to-time and there’s a few instances out there if it being captured on video. Perhaps my favorite is an old video from the guy they called the Godfather of First Amendment auditors, Jeff Grey. This occurred in Florida, near Jacksonville, on I-10, and involves a classic Florida speed trap, full of unnecessary government employees who have nothing else better to do than to harass people and flex their egos and authority. Jeff sets the trap with the bait. And the cops can’t resist it.
Read more: https://thecivilrightslawyer.com/2022/08/14/is-there-a-right-to-flash-lights-to-warn-motorists-of-a-speed-trap-can-they-stop-you/
Jeff’s video: https://youtu.be/u7mlYT0pDuA
Video to submit? https://forms.gle/HmwnDQKvwvYPxe967
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NOTE: We don’t condone threats or violence of any kind. If you are upset or outraged by acts of government misconduct featured in this video, we encourage you to utilize lawful means of expression, including becoming involved in the political process, as well as seeking accountability through the judicial system.
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More on 1A retaliation law in today’s video here: https://youtu.be/y27I2FmsCq8
So what law did you break for him to stop you – it's a well being stop bc of the high beam flash and feelings enforcement in full effect!
Wave or hit wipers if it becomes a law of hitting ur highbeams?
So… Was this cop punished for being scum and illegal detention?
Is it a crime to post a sign that says Video cameras in use ti catch shoplifters? Stores do it all the time to warn not a crime
I've watched the videos, and read a lot comments here… and it seems there is a bit of tunnel vision going on here. Many have become the Hammers thinking everything is a nail… that they accuse the cops of being.
In this instance, weather genuine, or disingenuous, the reason for the pull over was valid.
He flashed his lights multiple times as he approached and passed the gaggle of officers.
He could have been warning of the speed trap (albeit to soon, lol), saying hello to the officers, OR an actual call for help/assistance.
I am against the rampant tyranny and support many of these videos, but I would want the officer to investigate… just as the ovp (orig video poster) also wanted and knew would happen.
They did stop and investigate.
The issue here is that, once the question was asked, and the answer given…. the investigation was complete. I'd even accommodate a little extra annoyed chatter from the officer… because let's face it, no one wants to feel their time was wasted, no matter the job/ task/ relationship.
However, the retaliation and detention of the driver as long as they did is what is at issue here…. and justifiably so.
We don't like bad cops, judges, system, laws, etc…. but we do understand the need for concern (feigned or real), and the acting on that concern… that is part of the protect and serve ideal… weather it's in the officers heart, or begrudgingly done because it's mandated by their precinct.
That cop is a douche
Thanks again
It is our civic duty to warn one another of speed traps.
What that idiot of a cop is doing is a very good reason to keep your windows up.
…if the cop's stated reason for pulling him over was "I just wanted to make sure you were alright," then shouldn't the stop be over as soon as Jeff said he was fine?
It seems to me that if you're pulling me over to ensure my safety, then the second that I say "Yeah, I'm good" the stop is over, and your right to detain me goes with it. Why are you even asking for my ID?
Dude is hand holding phone thats a traffic violation lmao 🤣 😂 dont say hes innocent
and were do these PIGS work?
If the intent of running speed on the highway was to get drivers to slow down, then they wouldn't mind a driver signaling other drivers to slow down.
That they don't want drivers signaling to slow down demonstrates that speed reduction and road safety are not, in fact, the intent or objective.
Flash lights to warn of road hazards, like deer, accidents, debris in the road.
too vague, and difficult to prove the intention of flashing lights. like the middle finger, a person with arthritis can display a middle finger unaware of the significance.
He should get back to his speed trap.
I remember seeing this a long time ago. This isn’t cut and dry. What if a woman was being held against her will by a psycho husband or some sort of emergency, flashing lights at a group of cops in the highway median makes perfect sense.
Look at the bully trying to be sneaky with it, too cute. .. ..and dangerous. Protecting the H.E.( double hockey stick ) out of the citizenery in an area near you.
My quick search only yielded when I looked into this issue a couple of months ago was the 8th Circuit and NJ, which both ruled it was constitutionally protected via the 1st amendment. I still wouldn't confess to it as I enjoy the 5th amendment too much, but I think that Jeff was specifically trying to make a point here in his video. I find it very telling that, not only did they think that flashing his lights was reasonable suspicion of a crime, but they hold his drivers license while telling him his free to go, and then insisting that he doesn't record them… And then delay him longer while they "check on more thing" after telling him that he was free to go. The whole thing is crazy.
So I guess we need two cameras now. One in plain sight, and one hidden. I would love to know what that jackass was going to say off camera.
THEY ARE PETTY
It is COMETELY legal and covered under the constitution, and I havent seen the video.
In San Diego years ago they were around a bend on a steep down grade with curbs and sidewalks, a 2 lane road, no residences within 30 feet of the roadway in a small canyon. The speed limit should have been 40-45 mph, but it was 35. This was a wide well isolated thoroughfare. I was going the opposite ( 6:52 uphill) direction. So when I got to the top of the hill, I pulled into a small strip mall and made a sign saying speed trap ahead and taped it to a lamp post on the corner in plain sight. I went back to the strip mall across the street and waited. Within 3-4 minutes one of the motorcycle cops there came wizzing up the hill rubbernecking for the sign. When he saw it he pulled up snd jumped off his bike and grabbed the sign and threw it on the ground and looked all around for who did it. Entrapment, no bodily injury or property damage, civilian surveillance…. I was sick to death of their slimy unconstitutional “revenue enhancement tactics. Scum.
3:00 hastening to conclusions in other words
so wen I flash my lights, due to a cop on the road usually I am past the cop when I am doing that. how do they know someone is flashing there lights for oncoming cars. maybe at night they could see this but during the day? i assume it is another officer further up whom can see it or something. any rate.
A federal court in St. Louis ruled that drivers are allowed to flash their lights to warn other motorists of nearby police and speed traps. The court ruled that it's a first amendment right.
No ID required for Unlawful Stop.
Flashing your highbeams is not necessarily a warning there is a speed trap. It means, "Hazard Ahead, slow down". I live on range land, there are regularly cattle on the road. If you want to warn an oncoming driver that there's a herd of cattle ahead you flash your lights (there's no cops out here, no one thinks it's a speed trap). If they ask, you're flashing because there's cops on the road ahead, it's dangerous to speed by them quickly and you are looking out for officer safety.
I know you say there's not clear case law. However, are there ordinances prohibiting this? What's the code or statute?
It's worth noting also that the officer told him he was fren to go right then if he wanted to. Luckily for our driver, he doesn't fall for it, recognizing that the LEO still has his driver's license in his possession so he would've immediately been pulled over for that, then charged with driving without license in possession lol. That's when the officer continues to demand that he turn off his camera to get his license back then returns to his car. After an undetermined Also news that name refused to give him his ID back unless he turned his camera off but he caught on is that really quick because if he would have left that traffic stop without his ID they were immediately pulled him over and had a reason to do so lol of time the officer returns with his documents ⁶
They are allowed to lie to the public in the performance of their duties yet their word in the witness chair is considered the gold standard of truthfulness. Of course the role of public facing liar never bleeds into their testimony.
Don't understand why he gave his ID. He didn't commit a crime. I would have just said I'm fine , I didn't flash my lights to signify any distress. Have a nice day.
If the cop says you're free to go, go. Then when they get you for driving without the license that they confiscated you can have fun in court.
The first amendment also applies to writing, flashing your lights and interpretive dance.
Qualified immunity is fundamentally unconstitutional.
The constitution states that the government shall make no laws that infringe on the peoples rights.
Qualified immunity prevents the redress of the government when our rights have been infringed.
It is unconstitutional. The justices involved in its creation should be removed.
It’s a common thing that if an oncoming car is heading for DANGER, I Always flash. Today? Cops might be shooting at passing cars with auto-immunity. Flashing my lights allows them to use their 2nd amendment or any other rights. It’s just let’s them know BE AWARE of BEWARE. No law against. It and yes. I have been stopped for it. I don’t flash when I’m drunk