Flashing in public - Free speech or ticket offense?

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Glory Days

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Oct 17, 2011 6:59 PM
so if a group of 10 cars are driving 90mph together on the highway, can they argue freedom of assembly?
Con_Alma;936587 wrote: Make the speed whatever is deemed appropriate but there will always be a few people who think that it's too slow. To afford those people the ability to get around the rules in the name of speech or communication really shouldn't be the goal. Should it?
well put
Con_Alma;936611 wrote:There are many reason for people to flash their lights.

Reminding someone to turn their lights on

Reminding someone to turn their high beams off.

Letting someone know your are coming around a tight, narrow turn are just a few off the top of my head.

Notifying someone that they are speeding and a police cruiser is enforcing the speed up ahead isn't really a good use of flashing the lights in my opinion.

The illegality of it probably is no doubt going to be difficult to enforce but, again the freedom of speech issue will be interesting to see argued.
only reason i flash my lights are for safety reasons. like deer or other obstacles in the road or that person has their lights off etc.
Oct 17, 2011 6:59pm
justincredible's avatar

justincredible

Nick Mangold

32,056 posts
Oct 17, 2011 7:13 PM
Glory Days;936913 wrote:only reason i flash my lights are for safety reasons. like deer or other obstacles in the road or that person has their lights off etc.
Yeah, but you're a cop, right?
Oct 17, 2011 7:13pm
Glory Days's avatar

Glory Days

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7,809 posts
Oct 17, 2011 7:28 PM
justincredible;936929 wrote:Yeah, but you're a cop, right?
ummmm uhhhh nooo, stupid pigs deserve to get lights flashed
Oct 17, 2011 7:28pm
Glory Days's avatar

Glory Days

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Oct 17, 2011 8:43 PM
Fly4Fun;937002 wrote:Something in that video caught my eye...





She's missing part of her left hands ring finger.
you know how we know you are gay?
Oct 17, 2011 8:43pm
G

gut

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15,058 posts
Oct 17, 2011 8:49 PM
As mentioned, flashing lights can mean different things. There is a legit safety argument where someone might think you're telling them their lights are off, when they are really on. Then they don't realize the mistake until it's too late coming around a dark corner.

So maybe it could be argued it should be illegal - at night. During the day I see no issue, besides free speech you could also say it's a form of civil disobedience.
Oct 17, 2011 8:49pm
Ironman92's avatar

Ironman92

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Oct 17, 2011 10:42 PM
Most of my flashing is to alert upcoming vehicles of danger/potential danger in the area of the upcoming road (deer, most common, dogs, traffic accident, stupid people)...and if someone in town doesn't have their lights on....cop when possible.
Oct 17, 2011 10:42pm
Devils Advocate's avatar

Devils Advocate

Brudda o da bomber

4,539 posts
Oct 18, 2011 7:13 AM
When I flash in public, It ALWAYS STOPS TRAFFIC.


Followed by excesive speeding away from the scene.

So it should a least be illegal for ME to flash in public
Oct 18, 2011 7:13am
I

I Wear Pants

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16,223 posts
Oct 18, 2011 9:18 AM
gut;937082 wrote:As mentioned, flashing lights can mean different things. There is a legit safety argument where someone might think you're telling them their lights are off, when they are really on. Then they don't realize the mistake until it's too late coming around a dark corner.

So maybe it could be argued it should be illegal - at night. During the day I see no issue, besides free speech you could also say it's a form of civil disobedience.
No it couldn't be argued that. If it's at night you will certainly notice if your lights are on and then you turn them off.

There is no reason flashing your lights to indicate a policeman is ahead should be illegal. It'd be the same if we made it illegal to tell someone "hey, don't jaywalk right now, there's a cop right there". That would be stupid so is ticketing people for doing something that results in people slowing down.

As for the parking meter thing, how do they justify that?
Oct 18, 2011 9:18am
S

Steel Valley Football

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4,548 posts
Oct 18, 2011 11:22 AM
I Wear Pants;937518 wrote:No it couldn't be argued that. If it's at night you will certainly notice if your lights are on and then you turn them off.

There is no reason flashing your lights to indicate a policeman is ahead should be illegal. It'd be the same if we made it illegal to tell someone "hey, don't jaywalk right now, there's a cop right there". That would be stupid so is ticketing people for doing something that results in people slowing down.

As for the parking meter thing, how do they justify that?
It varies by city, but its justified by not wanting cars to exceed their time limit; therefore allowing others their right to have ample open spaces in which to park. My guess is it could also be considered obstruction of justice.
Oct 18, 2011 11:22am
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I Wear Pants

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Oct 18, 2011 11:29 AM
Steel Valley Football;937613 wrote:It varies by city, but its justified by not wanting cars to exceed their time limit; therefore allowing others their right to have ample open spaces in which to park. My guess is it could also be considered obstruction of justice.
How does it allow cars to exceed their limit? If some random dude does or doesn't put money in my meter to keep it from expiring it has no effect over when I am returning to move my vehicle.
Oct 18, 2011 11:29am
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Steel Valley Football

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Oct 18, 2011 11:43 AM
I Wear Pants;937625 wrote:How does it allow cars to exceed their limit? If some random dude does or doesn't put money in my meter to keep it from expiring it has no effect over when I am returning to move my vehicle.

Meters have limits (usually two hrs) as to how long you can park by them, as do streets. Meaning, you can't stay two hrs by one meter then jump up a space and park for two more hrs. Allowing people to feed meters, in theory, permits exceeding the parking time limit.
Oct 18, 2011 11:43am
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Laley23

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Oct 18, 2011 12:03 PM
Steel Valley Football;937634 wrote:Meters have limits (usually two hrs) as to how long you can park by them, as do streets. Meaning, you can't stay two hrs by one meter then jump up a space and park for two more hrs. Allowing people to feed meters, in theory, permits exceeding the parking time limit.
No it wouldnt. They can still ticket you for being there over 2 hours if thats th law. Otherwise, how does anyone know I didnt walk out at 1 hour and 45 minutes and put more money in myself...

that law could never be enforced. Obstruction of Justice is another issue, but the time limit I cant see ever working.
Oct 18, 2011 12:03pm
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Steel Valley Football

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Oct 18, 2011 12:17 PM
Laley23;937651 wrote:No it wouldnt. They can still ticket you for being there over 2 hours if thats th law. Otherwise, how does anyone know I didnt walk out at 1 hour and 45 minutes and put more money in myself...

that law could never be enforced. Obstruction of Justice is another issue, but the time limit I cant see ever working.
I promise you that's their reasoning. And you can bet your sweet bipee it can be enforced. Go try to fight it lol.
Oct 18, 2011 12:17pm
I

I Wear Pants

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Oct 18, 2011 12:17 PM
Steel Valley Football;937634 wrote:Meters have limits (usually two hrs) as to how long you can park by them, as do streets. Meaning, you can't stay two hrs by one meter then jump up a space and park for two more hrs. Allowing people to feed meters, in theory, permits exceeding the parking time limit.
Like Laley said, this doesn't allow anyone to circumvent the system as the system is inherently based upon a meter maid noticing the car there for more than two hours. Because otherwise I could walk out and endlessly feed my meter before it expires and never get hit with a penalty.

This is the tiny shit that adds up to a lot of money wasted in litigation. Feeding someone else's meter should not be illegal.
Oct 18, 2011 12:17pm
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Steel Valley Football

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Oct 18, 2011 12:25 PM
I Wear Pants;937673 wrote:Like Laley said, this doesn't allow anyone to circumvent the system as the system is inherently based upon a meter maid noticing the car there for more than two hours. Because otherwise I could walk out and endlessly feed my meter before it expires and never get hit with a penalty.

This is the tiny **** that adds up to a lot of money wasted in litigation. Feeding someone else's meter should not be illegal.
Is nice that you have an opinion about it. No one gives a fuck about it though, and most importantly not the parking authority. Regardless, it's certainly a reasonable law.
Oct 18, 2011 12:25pm
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Laley23

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Oct 18, 2011 1:18 PM
Steel Valley Football;937672 wrote:I promise you that's their reasoning. And you can bet your sweet bipee it can be enforced. Go try to fight it lol.
Ok, that still has nothing to do with someone feeding the meter of someone else. It is about someone noticing the car there for longer than the allotted time.

I did live in Chicago for a summer with my GF and would always feed her/mine and friends meters. Meter man police guy always told me it was illegal. I gota 1 warning under my windshield all summer. We had a 3 hour limit on the street. I would get in my car, drive around the block and park it again. Never got a ticket.
Oct 18, 2011 1:18pm
W

WebFire

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Oct 18, 2011 1:23 PM
Laley23;937738 wrote:Ok, that still has nothing to do with someone feeding the meter of someone else. It is about someone noticing the car there for longer than the allotted time.

I did live in Chicago for a summer with my GF and would always feed her/mine and friends meters. Meter man police guy always told me it was illegal. I gota 1 warning under my windshield all summer. We had a 3 hour limit on the street. I would get in my car, drive around the block and park it again. Never got a ticket.
The town I work in has 2 hour limit parking downtown. If you simply move to another spot and he can still see the tire mark, he tickets you. Doesn't matter if you moved.

And just because you never got a ticket doesn't mean it's legal.
Oct 18, 2011 1:23pm
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Steel Valley Football

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Oct 18, 2011 1:41 PM
^^^^

Right!

The letter of the law is that you must go to a different street or block, not sure which it is. It's geared toward businesses' customer turnover.
Oct 18, 2011 1:41pm
Laley23's avatar

Laley23

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Oct 18, 2011 2:31 PM
WebFire;937746 wrote:The town I work in has 2 hour limit parking downtown. If you simply move to another spot and he can still see the tire mark, he tickets you. Doesn't matter if you moved.

And just because you never got a ticket doesn't mean it's legal.
Never said that it was legal. I was told that I would be ticketed by SVF. I wasnt.
Oct 18, 2011 2:31pm
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Steel Valley Football

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Oct 18, 2011 4:38 PM
Laley23;937827 wrote:Never said that it was legal. I was told that I would be ticketed by SVF. I wasnt.

No, you said that law could never be enforced. I said I bet you it can. I also told you to try to fight it. You not getting a ticket out of luck is irrelevant.
Oct 18, 2011 4:38pm
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I Wear Pants

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Oct 18, 2011 5:46 PM
Steel Valley Football;937683 wrote:Is nice that you have an opinion about it. No one gives a fuck about it though, and most importantly not the parking authority. Regardless, it's certainly a reasonable law.
Ah yes, I forgot you were the leading authority on parking laws. My bad.
Oct 18, 2011 5:46pm