A Florida driver ticketed for flashing his headlights to warn of a police speed trap is fighting back with a class-action lawsuit charging a violation of motorists' free speech rights, the St. Petersburg Times reports.
If the state loses, it could be forced to refund fines to 2,400 motorists cited for headlight-signaling from 2005 to 2010.
Although the state has not formally answered the lawsuit, the Times quotes Capt. Mark Welch, spokesman for the Florida Highway Patrol, as saying "flashing lights are prohibited on vehicles," except for turn signals.
Erich Campbell, 38, of Land O'Lakes, Fla., tells the Times he sees a pattern in the ticketing, mainly from "frustrated police officers who feel they were disrespected."
He says his $115 ticket was dismissed by a Hillsborough County judge, a move he claims is common among several county courts.
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4 comments:
It seems to me this man did what the police were also trying to do, stop speeding. The police are becoming Nazi's. We are not 1941 Nazi Germany. We are not a police state. The entire attitude of police and State's attorneys today is causing a backlash of disrespect. They act like they are above the law and saints. They are neither. Just shut your mouths, stay off the TV and stop seeking your press opportunities and quietly do your jobs. Otherwise, go get a greeter job at WalMart.
the main job of police "speed traps" and ticketing is to curb speeding. by flashing his lights, the man is reducing the speed of other vehicles. in essence, he is helping the police with their job!
9:07- I have been a police officer for many years, and i agree with you 100 percent. When i was trained long ago on radar use, I was told that anyone flashing headlights to warn others are only making my job easier.
Whatever it takes to raise revenues. That seems to be the consensus around the country nowadays.
Speaking of speed traps, there are speed cameras in one of the Cambridge, MD school zones.
One of our neighbors has been mailed 4 tickets going through that area. He said he just wasn't paying attention he guessed and had no idea the cameras were there until the tickets started coming in the mail with the picture of his vehicle and tag.
He now drives a lot slower through that section every day.
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