Is it illegal to flash on coming traffic to let them know the police are...

12-20-2009, 01:01 PM

...around the corner? Last night on my way home from work there was some temporary folding signs up at the side of the road saying 'Slow Police'. I wasn't speeding anyway, but I saw the 2 police cars and passed them, continued around the corner and down a little hill, as I was going down the hill I flashed a couple of the oncoming cars to make them aware the police was there, then at the bottom of the hill there was another police car facing up the hill who will have definitely, without a doubt, seen me flashing! Is this anything to worry about? If they have video evidence of me flashing can they send me a penalty?The thing is, there was signs up to say they was there so it wasn't as if they were trying to hide their presence, and the cars I flashed had already passed the police car at the bottom of the hill (I just hadn't seen it by that point) so they already knew they was there?

should I expect a letter / fine through the post?

**robert c** · 12-21-2009, 11:32 PM

It is as flyboys says. They will charge you with obstructing the police in the execution of their duty.
A bus driver got charged with this offence however well meaning,

**Docker** · 12-21-2009, 11:32 PM

No its not illegal you got nothing to worry about.

**emandgee** · 12-21-2009, 11:33 PM

If you do get any comeback you could always try saying you were flashing the other drivers to let them know of a danger up ahead. I can't see the police pursuing this - to get anywhere they'd have to take you to court and to secure a conviction for this is not in their best interests, I'm sure. Personally I wouldn't flash others to warn them of police - if they're breaking the law then so be it! - but I have flashed the lights to warn of obstruction etc ahead.

**Joe B** · 12-21-2009, 11:34 PM

Impeding justice hahahahaha

Where there's a will there's a way.

Proving that it wasn't an accident, that's the battle, but yes on it's face it's illegal.

You have nothing to worry about, that's not an infraction they can't give "after the fact" in the mail.

**David S** · 12-21-2009, 11:34 PM

A lot of good answers here. The bottom line is that yes, you can be charged with a misdemeanor for obstruction. However, the police would have to prove that you flashed for that reason. About all it would take to beat it would be to dispute it, because they can't prove what you were thinking. If you claimed that you flashed your high beams to get another driver to lower his, it would raise reasonable doubt. It would be very tough to convict you of it.

**u_r_a_LIBTARD** · 12-21-2009, 11:35 PM

no it isnt. they cant prove you did anything. Didnt you flash your lights becuase you thought one of the other drivers had their high beams on? relax dude, smoke a blunt. they can bust you for that.

**Love is great** · 12-25-2009, 06:06 PM

If the officer at the bottom didn't give you a ticket, consider that a gift!

When I took drivers ed I said to my instructor...

"Why didn't you flash your lights to warn people there's a cop?" and she said to me....

"Why? If I'm not doing anything wrong, I assume others aren't either! Plus, it's against the law"

I learned that 17 years ago!