Thinking About … Headlight Heresy

Kelly

I don’t speed.u00a0 I haven’t since a particularly nasty accident in 2001.u00a0 I am bothered by speeders I see on the road.u00a0 It bothers me that they have such little respect for the safety of others.nnOn the other hand, I do see flashing of lights as being freedom of speech.u00a0 It’s just a simple way to communicate something to oncoming vehicles.u00a0 It is considerate to the safety of all to give people a signal that they will be inconvenienced if they continue to break the law.nnI support this man’s lawsuit.u00a0 I also encourage everyone to use cruise control if they have it.u00a0 Set it to the speed limit and you won’t even have to think about it.u00a0 If you don’t have cruise control, please consider the safety of others when you are in the driver’s seat.u00a0 It may not be your fault, but the damage is much greater when you are going at a higher rate of speed.nnThank you for your time.

Bethie_d

So TECHNICALLY in Florida it is illegal for me to flash my lights at oncoming traffic to warn them of the accident around the blind curve or of the large dead animal in the middle of their lane?u00a0 Come on – some common sense please!

Steveobs

There is no law in Florida making it illegal to flash your light. That is why this law suite should win without any problem.

Excop

As a former police officer, I can tell you that only a small percentage of patrolmen / troopers “enjoy” doing traffic stops.u00a0 Yes, there are always a few pricks who actually look forward to f**cking with Joe Citizen.u00a0 Most, though, look at traffic work as a crappy part of their job, and write tickets when it’s their assignment.u00a0 Think about it: they have to get out of their nice air conditioned (or heated) patrol car; approach a strange vehicle occupied by God-knows-who (perhaps a fleeing felon with a shotgun on his lap); and deal face-to-face with someone who already hates you because you pulled them over…and is likely going to lie, cry, or generally give you sh!t.u00a0 If that sounds like fun, try it sometime.

Crazy

There is a simple way to avoid speeding tickets.nnDON”T SPEEDnnYou getting somewhere fast is not worth someone elses life, grow a brain and leave earlier.nnI don’t consider police sitting in a location known to be a area where people speed a “speed trap”.u00a0 Don’t blame the police because you areu00a0 fucking stupid.u00a0

Doc

Dear Crazy,nJust stay in the right lane and you will be fine. u00a0Our freeways are designed for 80 mph or a bit more. u00a0Driving slowly just contributes to traffic congestion which contributes to pollution which contributes to global warming which causes polar bears to drown because they can’t get to ice floes. u00a0So just stay in the right lane and stay the heck out of my way. u00a0I know how to drive, driving fast is actually much safer than driving slowly because you don’t let your attention wander when you drive more quickly. u00a0Check out the hard data in the book entitled, “Traffic; Why We Drive the Way We Do” by Tom Vanderbilt. u00a0You might actually learn something and be a safer, and faster, driver if you just accept his data. u00a0nnAs to flashing lights, it is my right to warn other drivers about immoral speed traps. u00a0The only reason to stop most traffic is to generate income for the municipality. u00a0That sucks. u00a0Speeding tickets when the driver is sober, the roads are dry, and the speed is less than 25 over the limit is simply a way for cities to milk we good drivers. u00a0nnSo, in summary, Crazy, get the book, read the book, do some research, and either stay in the Right lane and out of my way, or drive like a normal person. u00a0

Not Crazy

Speeding rules! u00a0

Excop

Hey Doc,nnWell, since you’re preaching on knowing so much about V & T Enforcement, let me clarify something for you.u00a0 While you’re right that speed enforcement…in general…is more about revenue than public safety, you’re wrong about who gets the money.u00a0 Most Vehicle and Traffic Law (“moving violations”, like speeding) are STATE laws…not written by “municipalities” (towns, villages, cities.)u00a0 It’s actually your state government that gets the lion’s share of speeding fines.u00a0 Local governments get to keep the money from parking tickets…which are normally determined by local ordinances.nnAnd I love the way people always use themselves as the benchmark for “good drivers.”u00a0 No one you ever talk to is a sh!tty driver…it’s always the other guy.u00a0 To paraphrase the late George Carlin…why is it that anyone who drives slower than you is an idiot, and anyone who drives faster is a freakin’ maniac.u00a0 (Another great Carlin line about breaking the law, “Cop didn’t see it…I didn’t do it.”)u00a0 u00a0u00a0

Crazy

Driving like a fucking moron is normal?u00a0 I’m damn happy to not be normal if that’s what you are. nnMilking good drivers? Really?? Howu00a0 many tickets have you gotten for your good driving?nWant to know how many tickets I have gotten? 0, none, zip, BIG ZERO!nnGood drivers obey the laws, morons think they are for everyone else!

Doc

nDriving between 4 and 7 miles OVER the speed limit is normal.u00a0nnSpeed traps are designed to generate income (for somebody!) u00a0Setting the speed limit to drop by 10 MPH on a curve on the Interstate, and then ticketing at the beginning of the curve has nothing to do w/ safety and everything to do w/ writing tickets.nnI have not gotten any tickets for good driving, I think that was a silly question. u00a0I have seen tickets given for driving too SLOWLY, however. u00a0I have never gotten one of them! u00a0By driving more slowly than the prevailing traffic, you are creating a serious hazard to all the drivers behind and next to you. u00a0Again, get the book mentioned in my first post, you just might learn something. u00a0nnGood drivers drive with the flow of traffic, AR idiots stick to the “rules” regardless. u00a0So you claim you would drive the speed limit regardless, huh, wow. u00a0Don’t share the road with me in heavy fog, or after an ice storm. u00a0I would hate to “run into” you with you doing 60 or 70 (depending upon the road), on ice. u00a0nnOh, and the use of the f-word isn’t contributing to the strength of your argument, it just shows you have noting of substance to say and must resort to anu00a0expletive for lack of a meaningful reply.u00a0

Doc

I don’t know where you are writing from, but down here in the Great State of Texas, it is the municipality gets the lion’s share of the income. u00a0If it isn’t for the money, why do they set up “speed traps” in the first place? u00a0Just curious. u00a0I didn’t claim I was a “good” driver, just that I know how to drive and do drive fast. u00a0(I had 3 years of practice on dirt ovals so I do know a tad bit about making a car go forward.)u00a0

Crazy

You really are fucking stupid.nnWhere did I say I drive slow in traffic? n60-70 on ice? Where do you get that idea?nnSorry, I don’t drive on the freeway, too many fucking morons speedingu00a0 there.nnI don’t speed, I’m not as stupid as you. I also don’t blame someone else if I get pulled over. nI have been pulled over a couple of times but not for speeding and I have never had a ticket for anything.nnNow, I will pat you on the head and give you a cookie little boy and you can go back to blaming everyone else for you being a fucking moron that likes speeding.nnI may be Crazy but I’m not stupid.

Doc

Crazy,nI am probably older than you are, you don’t need to talk down to me, at least I can have a discussion w/o cursing. u00a0nnYou said you always drive the speed limit. u00a0If you are driving 55 and traffic is running at 62 (which is the norm), then you are driving slowly, aren’t you?nIf you don’t adjust to conditions, including adjusting you speed upward for traffic flow, then it is logical to assume that you would drive the speed limit regardless of conditions. u00a0Hence the ice comment.nnI have gotten one speeding ticket, it was justified, I was tired, the road was empty, and I chose to run 20 over. u00a0Got stopped, got ticketed, no prob. u00a0I don’t blame anyone else for my tickets. u00a0I have seen what were described as speed traps, which is basically what this whole thread was supposed to be about, and I do believe it is right, just, and proper to warn oncoming traffic that such a condition exists.nAfter all, what is the theory behind cops stopping speeders? u00a0It is to slow traffic down. u00a0If I “Paul Revere” the oncoming traffic, doesn’t that slow traffic down? u00a0Yup. If I am ticked for doing what the cops want, that makes no sense. u00a0On the other hand if the purpose of the cops stopping speeders is revenue generation, THEN I amu00a0interferingu00a0with their purpose. u00a0So what is the logical conclusion if they ticket folks who are trying to slow down traffic?nHmmmmm?nnI am sorry I upset you, Crazy, it’s just that research has shown that one slow car (again, driving 55 when traffic is running at 62 makes 55 a slow car), can cause multiple problems in traffic. u00a0I am happy that you don’t drive on the freeways, that is good of you. u00a0So go be safe in traffic, and I will be safe in traffic, and we can agree to disagree on whether moving with the flow is more or less dangerous.nnI think we CAN agree that in the current situation, most traffic enforcement is being done to generate revenue, not to make the roads safer. u00a0Right?nnI never said you were stupid, Crazy, I just suggested you might want to do a little research before you ranted at someone. u00a0Research is a good thing.

Crazy

No we can’t agree on that.nI never said it was wrong to warn other drivers of cops sitting down the road no one is doing anything wrong they have nothing to worry about.nSorry to disappoint you I’m not upset, just laughing at you making assumptions. nI’m also over 50 and the child of a retired cop.

Doc

OK, so we are BOTH old farts! u00a0:) u00a0Question off the current topic, but one that is bothering me. u00a0You are the son of a retired policeman. u00a0(Please thank your dad, if he is still with us, for his service.) u00a0When did policemen change? u00a0Maybe it was so gradual I missed it day by day. u00a0What I am talking about is when I was a kid, heck when I was a wild and crazy college student, the police were there to honestly serve and protect. u00a0You had trouble, you went to a policeman, they assumed you were a good guy until you gave them reason not to. u00a0Even when I was a long haired hippie the police were still trustable professionals. u00a0That has changed, big time.nNow the police view citizens as bad guys until proven innocent. u00a0Not all of the officers, but a LOT of them. u00a0I am in a thread on a police board about how to handle someone with a CHL (Concealed Handgun License down here in Texas), that is carrying, during a traffic stop. u00a0It is down rightu00a0frighteningu00a0how many of the officers would disarm a citizen with NO reason to do so.u00a0THey don’t care about the 2nd amendment anymore. u00a0They don’t seem to care that we are law abiding, have had a background check, etc. u00a0We are, to those officers, BAD GUYS just because we are legally carrying. u00a0I used to feel safe when an officer was around, now I have to wonder…nSo I am curious if you know what caused the 180, or if I am missing something totally obvious? u00a0n

mj

Back East,it used to be instinct for me to flash my lights to warn others ofu00a0 a speed trap. Then there was a rumor that gang initiation around DC included shooting drivers who flashed their lights. Here in Northern CA,I don’t see as many speed traps and rarely flash my lights.