Another Texas tradition dying out (Howe: live in, law, legal)

[lonestar2007]

Any idea what it means when you see an approaching vehicle's lights flash on and then off, then on and then off and then a short pause and it starts again, on and off - on and off?

I still follow this practice (warning oncoming traffic that they are approaching an active radar), but I'm beginning to think most people don't have a clue as to what it means. I do see a few left who know what I am warning them of and they will give a wave of thanks as they go by me, but I'll tell you, it's getting to be less and less.

Maybe it's just the area I live in (DFW area) and it is still more active in other areas. I sure hate to see it die out, it has saved my butt a few times, that's for sure and I was forever grateful to the person who alerted me. Looks like people would be more than willing to return the favor.

Please note, this is just a post wondering how many are aware of this practice, it is not intended to start the age old debate of 'if you're doing the crime, you do the time' so to speak. You know what I mean here, just please, no posts about how you obey the law and never speed and if people cannot stay within the speed limits, they deserve a ticket. We all know that everyone is capable of slipping up at some time or other and just passing by a patrol car with an active radar gun is just as effective (well, almost )to slowing your butt down as a high dollar ticket is. I'll grant you, the high dollar ticket might encourage you somewhat more to keep an eye on your speed, but believe me, a close call also encourages you to watch your speed in the oncoming months as well because you know you got lucky and you might not be so lucky next time.

Also note, I am not some speed demon, nor do I approve of habitual speed demons. This is just a friendly warning for folks like myself who just happen to not be driving with one eye on their speed at the time for whatever reason and might be going a few miles over the posted limit.

So hopefully, there will be no sermons on the evils of speeding and the self-righteous statements of 'I don't ever speed and you shouldn't either and if you do, you should be hung, etc'. Let's just see who all is aware of the warning practice and what it means. Also, if you are aware of it, do you still do it or do you think that no one is going to return the favor, so why should I warn them? Hopefully not, but I'm afraid this might be the case and that's a shame.

[Cathy4017]

It's been quite awhile since I've seen that, but every once in a great while, someone will do that! Used to be very, very common. Once CBs were the norm, you didn't see it so much, but now that they aren't, makes me wonder why it's not more common than it is!

[North Beach Person]

Flashing your headlights to warn oncoming motorists of a speed trap isn't just a Texas thing. Sorry.

[lonestar2007]

Originally Posted by North Beach Person

Flashing your headlights to warn oncoming motorists of a speed trap isn't just a Texas thing. Sorry.

I never doubted that it was, but since this is a Texas forum and it is (or was) a tradition here in the state of Texas, I saw no need to include the question of how if it is common in other regions. I am only concerned with the Texas aspect of it.

But thanks for making this observation.

[DitsyD]

I know what it means and I live in the DFW area.

[Trance750]

I did that one time, and a cop pulled me over and threatened to take me to jail. I guess I was interferring with his monthly ticket quota.

[lonestar2007]

Originally Posted by Cathy4017

It's been quite awhile since I've seen that, but every once in a great while, someone will do that! Used to be very, very common. Once CBs were the norm, you didn't see it so much, but now that they aren't, makes me wonder why it's not more common than it is!

Yep, CB handles and Smokey the Bear warnings. LOL I'm having an image of Burt Reynolds right about now.

[lonestar2007]

Originally Posted by Trance750

I did that one time, and a cop pulled me over and threatened to take me to jail. I guess I was interferring with his monthly ticket quota.

To jail? Wow! That was extreme. I think they can give you a warning or citation for interfering with their due process of whatever they want to call it. I don't know exactly how legal it would be and how it would stand up or even if it's true.

However, I do wait until I'm out of their eyesight before I start flashing my lights as it only makes sense anyway. If you're going to flash your lights as soon as you pass the patrol car, the oncoming car is already going to be clocked, so it is a mute effort.

[TexasHorseLady]

I know what it means - my Daddy used to do it all the time, and truckers would do it. However, it IS illegal and you WILL get a ticket if you're caught doing it. I always figured it made cars slow down which is the whole point, but perhaps it's illegal because it only makes them slow down until they've passed the cop and then they're right back up there speeding and so it actually defeats the purpose of keeping the highways safe.

[zilam98]

i think another reason that people are not doing that is that people get penalized for doing so, especially when the cops could see that you're doing that. one time my bf and i went on a long trip from waco back to tyler, a truck signaled us that a cop was behind him. the cop was actually behind him by a few miles, and he was lucky not to have been pulled over for that. it's a new law now here in tx.