Flashing headlights to warn of speed traps is protected speech,judge rules
Flashing headlights to warn other drivers of speed traps is constitutionally protected speech, ruled a Missouri judge on Monday.
In November of 2012, Michael Elli was pulled over by Ellisville police and was accused of “[f]lashing lights on certain vehicles . . . warning of RADAR ahead,” according to court papers obtained by The Wall Street Journal.
Elli, a retired West County resident who hadn’t been accused of a moving violation for more than 35 years, was told the standard fine for the charge was $1,000.
The city dropped the charge against Elli awhile ago, but the American Civil Liberties Union sued on Elli’s behalf anyway, claiming the arrest violates the First Amendment right to free speech. Tony Rothert, an attorney with the ACLU, explained the basis for that claim:
I've actually had two of these call me lucky I guess.I've stopped doing this as I don't need the hassle of dealing with assholes.
Found at Bad Blue Prep