speed trap and flashing headlights
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#1203791
(In Topic #143867)
Life Member
speed trap and flashing headlights
Question, where does it state in any law, rule book about flashing headlights being illegal? highway code states not to flash headlights to intimidate other drivers.
Have the police over stepped the line here?
all a driver is doing when he flashes to warn a driver about a speed trap is helping to prevent a crime from being committed.
Posted
Local Hero
All I'm doing is flashing a driver to make sure they are driving "safely", surely I'm taking onboard what they call these speed camera vans around here……."safety partnership vehicle"
:wink:
Posted
Local Hero
"Misuse of headlights" would be incredibly easy to defend in a court of law - simply say you'd passed a slow lorry, or something, and that's a fair enough reason to flash headlamps.
As I remember, people have been done for it though - there was a famous case which was fought and lost, but can't remember the details of it.
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Settled In
Its always said that they are "safety cameras" and not there just to collect revenue, therefore theres no harm done.
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Posted
Life Member
The guy defended himself and very badly at that basically he didn't put up the kind or argument I would have.paul_c said
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As I remember, people have been done for it though - there was a famous case which was fought and lost, but can't remember the details of it.
Posted
Local Hero
Posted
Old Timer
A5OPY said
So what would happen if i had a sign printed on my car and drove up and down past the police van saying "Warning Police speed trap Ahead, Slow Down" could i get done for that or would that be miss use of a sign?????
there was a case that a pedestrain was charged, having made a sign warning motorists of a camera van further down the road.
Point on his licence as well :dontknow: :roll:
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Life Member
How the hell did they get away with that? what was the crime??JonP said
there was a case that a pedestrain was charged, having made a sign warning motorists of a camera van further down the road. Point on his licence as well :dontknow: :roll:A5OPY said
So what would happen if i had a sign printed on my car and drove up and down past the police van saying "Warning Police speed trap Ahead, Slow Down" could i get done for that or would that be miss use of a sign?????
and how did he get points if he wasnt even driving or in charge of a vehicle??
Did notice today that this story was featured on Jeramey Vine show BBC Radio 2.
as far as i'm aware its not illegal to flash headlights if fact its in the highway code to use flashed headlights to warn drivers if the horn cannot be heard so it cant be illegal can it??
Posted
Old Timer
I just remember he made a sign and stood on a bridge warning drivers.
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Local Hero
carling said
hi all i travel to aberdeen from yorkshire there are 74 fixed camera plus 5 vans min do i need flashing yes i do.
I think the point he was making though, is that if you simply kept to the speed limit, it doesn't matter how many camera vans or how sneaky they are, you won't get done for speeding.
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Life Member
Posted
Life Member
The camera van has a civilian staff member in it - unless the officer is using his enforcement camera, which, by the time you've blasted past the van it would be too late!!!
Another example of the offence would be if you were arrested and gave false details in custody. That's what you'd be charged with.
Perverting the course of justice is for MUCH more serious issue and a flash of the headlamps wouldn't fit the bill.
They should be giving the ticket with the correct offence code otherwise it'll be an abuse of process!!
Posted
Life Member
Dano said
I would say that the offence would be 'obstructing an officer in the course of his duty'.
The camera van has a civilian staff member in it - unless the officer is using his enforcement camera, which, by the time you've blasted past the van it would be too late!!!
Another example of the offence would be if you were arrested and gave false details in custody. That's what you'd be charged with.
Perverting the course of justice is for MUCH more serious issue and a flash of the headlamps wouldn't fit the bill.
They should be giving the ticket with the correct offence code otherwise it'll be an abuse of process!!
How can you be obstructing an officer in his line of duty if you flash your light is that what you mean or parking the van next to the speed van.
if its for flashing your lights you are not obstructing an officer in the line of duty as you are preventing a crime from being committed same as it would be if you were to see a knife wielding yob about to stab someone and you did nothing as there is a police officer stood a few feet away if you did act and stop the stabbing would you then be guilty of obstructing an office because you stopped a crime being committed?? as they said on the Vine show a legal mine field all this tends to do is get the public against the police as they feel they are just doing it to raise funds and not help make the roads safer. does not encourage you to help the police with their enquires if you have just been ticketed for flashing your headlights does it?
Posted
Life Member
I think that people are able to tell serious crime from a traffic infringement. A speeding ticket wouldnt stop a lot of people helping out if they saw a serious crime in progress or if they had information…….. after all with holding informaton could be seen as 'assising an offender'….. another moreseroiu offence!! :wink:
Posted
Local Hero
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