Flashing Car Lights In Texas: Legal Or Illegal For Warning Others Of Speed Traps?
Is it illegal to flash your car lights in Texas? It's the universal sign for 'Cops Ahead' or 'Beware Speed Trap!'. The other day I was driving with a friend and someone flashed their lights in oncoming traffic to warn me about a speed trap and he threw out 'You know they can get in trouble for doing that?' Um, no they can't... right?
• TEXAS DOES NOT HAVE ANY LAWS AGAINST FLASHING HEADLIGHTS
NO, you cannot be fined for obstruction of justice for warning other drivers about upcoming speed traps by fleshing your car headlights.
According to this website...
However, you cannot illuminate your high beams if you are within 500 feet of an oncoming vehicle. 500 feet is about 1.5 football fields, or about 5 Mississippies @ 70 mph.
The law says nothing about the flashing of high beams at night, so long as you do not activate your high beams within 500 feet of an oncoming vehicle.
—See Tex. Trans. Code § 547.333(c)
While doing some google research, I found that there is NO statute in Texas that makes it Illegal to flash headlights as a warning for police ahead. Now, there was something about flashing headlights within 500 feet of an oncoming vehicle. Basically, if you're flashing your lights and it becomes a hazard or distraction to an oncoming car and causes an accident, you might have a problem. If you know of a law that states something different please comment below. The more info the better.
• THE CAR BEHIND ME IS FLASHING THEIR LIGHTS
I have heard that two flashes in succession by a driver behind you in the left lane indicate the driver intends to pass you and would prefer you yield the passing lane as the law requires. Basically, if someone flashes their lights behind you, they want to pass you. I think I have definitely seen this before.
• BE CAREFUL IN ALASKA, WASHINGTON, LOUISIANA, AND MARYLAND
According to MotorBiscuit.com...
You could still receive a citation for instances such as, obstructing an investigation, being found guilty of having flashing lights on your vehicle as in Louisiana, Maryland, and Washington, or guilty of shining your high beams into oncoming traffic in states such as Alaska, Arizona, Michigan, North Dakota, and a few others.
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