Federal judge rules drivers allowed to flash headlights to warn of speed traps
Didn’t a Federal Appeals Court determine this to be free speech in a recent case?
The police say the reason for speed traps is to slow traffic down in an area where speeding is a problem ( of course it isn’t to raise revenue /sarc ). So, all this guy was doing is what the cops say the speed traps are for - slowing people down.
Why didn’t he just go on social media like everyone else?
Warning drivers of a revenue collection armed robbery is a crime. This will earn respect for the police. Not.
Maybe he should change it to read:
“Cops ahead, obey traffic signs”
A while back in my neighborhood, a pedestrian was run down and killed by a idiot driver who was more interested in his cell phone than his driving.
After that, signs appeared all along that road urging drivers to slow down.
I didn’t hear of any of them getting tickets.
In this case in Seattle, the guy was ticketed for urging people to evade municipal taxes, a serious crime.
If Daniel Gehlke gets a good Attorney to throw this ticket out, then he should file 3 counter civil lawsuits against the city, the local police department, the harassing officer for Attorney fees, lost time, wages and money.
He was very fortunate that the police did not kill him. Either shoot him or beat him to death for “resisting arrest”.
Oh, and the taxpayers ...
Is the objective for motorists to obey the laws —— or to stuff the cops’ slush fund?
By doing this, he placed himself in great peril. He attempted to interfere as the Government [police] collected money, or as they refer to it as, revenue. this is the number one reason that the Government has the police go after thieves, they [Government] doesn't want the competition.
What if he just said “pigs ahead”, maybe because he thought he saw a loose hog?
Good thing he didn’t a dog.
What if he just said “Drive cautiously. Obey all traffic laws. Ya never know if a cop is hiding up ahead.”
Better yet, “Will warn of speed traps for money.” Might as well make a couple dollars for his time.
A judge in Sanford ruled Tuesday that a Lake Mary man was lawfully exercising his First Amendment rights when he flashed his headlights to warn neighbors that a deputy had set up a speed trap nearby.That decision is another victory for Ryan Kintner, 25, who sued theSeminole County Sheriff's Officelast year, accusing it of misconstruing a state law and violating his civil rights, principally his right to free speech.
He was ticketed Aug. 10 by a Seminole County deputy, but Kintner alleges the officer misapplied a state law designed to ban motorists from flashing after-market emergency lights.
Circuit Judge Alan Dickey earlier ruled that that state law does not apply to people who did what Kintner did, use his headlights to communicate.
On Tuesday the judge went a step further, saying people who flash their headlights to communicate are engaging in behavior protected by the U.S. Constitution.
A Google search turns up many similar stories.
-PJ