Is It Legal To Flash Your Headlights To Warn Of Police Ahead in Texas?
If it's one thing that plenty of Texans do, it's driving a car. The highways and streets are packed with folks making their way from here to there. Lately, I took a road trip to the Dallas area. As I was driving down I-20 I witnessed what we've all seen many times - flashing headlights from oncoming traffic.
I'm sure I'm not the only one. You hear all the stories about flashing headlights at night being some part of a gang initiation. It turns out, that's not it at all but there are a couple of different reasons why another vehicle may be flashing its lights at you. According to Lifehacker, the two most common things they're trying to communicate are your headlights may not be operating properly, you maybe be driving with high beams on, or there could be potential dangers ahead of you, including police with radar.
A quick flash of the lights usually means that it's a warning of law enforcement shooting radar ahead. With that information in mind, the question begs to be asked, is it legal to flash headlights to communicate this message?
I have found nothing in doing my research that indicates there are any statutes in Texas against this. However, there are a couple of things to consider. I did notice that it is prohibited to flash your headlights at an oncoming car less than 500 feet away. It could cause a distraction or become a hazard.
According to KTLA TV, ACLU spokesman Jeffery A. Mittman was quoted as saying: '“The police cannot retaliate against drivers who have done nothing wrong and are simply exercising their right to communicate with other drivers.”
So, for now, it looks like Texans are in the clear. Flashing headlights is just another way of communicating on the road and we all need more of that to prevent unwanted run-ins with the law and any danger ahead.
For more of a legal stance on the whole thing, you can view the video below.
