# Flashing Headlights **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [January 27, 2000, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flashing-headlights/17381 "2000-01-27T15:50:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Falcon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/49beb7/32.png) [@Falcon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Falcon)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2000, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flashing-headlights/17381/81 "2000-01-27T20:38:00Z")
David - Like I says, I saw a few similarities. Twas just a theory. 🙂 Although…I do wanna know who N/A was before, since he “used to post under a different screenname.” Of course, I have as much confidence of him answering that as the sun rising in the west tomorrow morning… ---
**Author:** ![David\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/51bf81/32.png) [@David\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_B)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2000, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flashing-headlights/17381/82 "2000-01-27T20:45:00Z")
Oh, Scylla, you meant I agreed with you on _that_! I thought you meant about the police uses speed traps for money! ---
**Author:** ![kathmandu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kathmandu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kathmandu)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2000, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flashing-headlights/17381/83 "2000-01-27T20:51:00Z")
StrTrkr777 said: > [@](#): > > I would think that most police officers would like for motorists to flash others. > What effect does it have? They slow down. It accomplishes exactly what they want as long as they do not want to generate money. David B said: > [@](#): > > Ding! Now you’ve hit upon the real reason they don’t want folks flashing their headlights like that. They are there to make money. They don’t sit in speed traps to slow people down – they do it to catch 'em going too fast. I think both of you are right. Where I live, the police use multinova cameras to take photos of speeders’ licence plates and tickets are them mailed out to the owners of the offending vehicles. Naturally, when this was introduced, it provoked howls of protest and allegations that all it was was a cash grab. While I believe it’s true that multinova has resulted in increased cash flow (but I don’t have any cites for this), the police very often issue bulletins to local radio stations advising where the cameras are going to be set up on specific days. They also advise the days on which they are going to be particularly vigilant about monitoring speeding in school and playground zones. So, yes, the police like to generate revenue, and yes, they like people to slow down. How’s that for sitting on the fence? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![David\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/51bf81/32.png) [@David\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_B)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2000, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flashing-headlights/17381/84 "2000-01-27T20:55:00Z")
If they liked people to slow down, they wouldn’t announce where it would be on specific days. They would keep it there all the time. Or announce that it will be out in some random location. In Chicago, the police tried something that actually did make people slow down – for a while. They put out old police cars with dummies in the driver seat (no, no, _real_ dummies, not just low-IQ cops) and half-hid them around the highways so people would think they were real and slow down. Worked a bit 'til people caught on… Incidentally, on the whole photo thing – it seems to me that this could be easily fought. Prove it was me in the car. If all you have is a photo of the plate, you don’t know who is driving. And “cars” can’t break laws, only people can. ---
**Author:** ![Navigator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/4af34b/32.png) [@Navigator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Navigator)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2000, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flashing-headlights/17381/85 "2000-01-27T21:07:00Z")
> [@](#): > > And “cars” can’t break laws, only people can. UhOh… :rolleyes: Now we’ve started the old ‘car’-control laws debate again… this thread isn’t far from Godwin’s law. * * * † Jon † Phillipians 4:13 ---
**Author:** ![formerposter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@formerposter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/formerposter)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2000, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flashing-headlights/17381/86 "2000-01-27T21:18:00Z")
So will I be allowed to defend myself, or are you going to try to win another argument by banning me? Isnt this cheating somehow folks? -N ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2000, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flashing-headlights/17381/87 "2000-01-27T21:19:00Z")
Yeah, well you can have the keys to my Suburban Assault Vehicle when you pry 'em from my cold dead fingers, pal. ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2000, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flashing-headlights/17381/88 "2000-01-27T21:23:00Z")
Prove your allegations, **Newt**. Now. Post evidence, support, news items, whatever. Prove that you’re not just vectoring an urban legend. Do it politely. If you can’t or won’t, you have no place here, and will certainly be banned again. You have a second chance. Don’t abuse it. -andros- ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2000, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flashing-headlights/17381/89 "2000-01-27T21:24:00Z")
Hey, **formerposter** , catchy li’l email address there. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2000, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flashing-headlights/17381/90 "2000-01-27T21:31:00Z")
I feel we have too few posters who present personal anecdotes as if they were facts and who disparage those who prefer documentation. Also, we are far below the National average for people who become abusive towards others when questioned. Next we will open a Soap Opera and Wrestling Forum, so that we can attract more mouthbreathers. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2000, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flashing-headlights/17381/91 "2000-01-27T21:34:00Z")
Dang! I thought this was an exhibitionist thread! ---
**Author:** ![kathmandu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kathmandu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kathmandu)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2000, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flashing-headlights/17381/92 "2000-01-27T21:35:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Incidentally, on the whole photo thing – it seems to me that this could be easily fought. Prove it was me in the car. If all you have is a photo of the plate, you don’t know who is driving. And “cars” can’t break laws, only people can. It doesn’t matter whose driving, as long as they are driving your car with your consent (and the onus is on the owner to establish that there was no consent, if that’s the case). The owner of the vehicle doesn’t receive any demerits on his licence, only a fine. In that respect, a multinova ticket is similar to a parking ticket. ---
**Author:** ![formerposter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@formerposter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/formerposter)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2000, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flashing-headlights/17381/93 "2000-01-27T21:36:00Z")
Thanks Im kinda partial to that statement made by ANOTHER OFFENDED person he attacked, who I got an email from just now. I dont like this guy, but hey anyone who has David for an enemy has me for an ally. Simple isnt it? Granted Formeragent is a nut, but i thought picking a name similar to his would get your attention right? well did it? Andros… theres really no help for me on this, even if i did post, whats to be gained? I will be banned again. So I will let this all die and return QUIETLY and STEALTHILY on some other day… Ill always remember you were a good person though. -N ---
**Author:** ![Gaudere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e495f1/32.png) [@Gaudere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gaudere)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2000, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flashing-headlights/17381/94 "2000-01-27T21:43:00Z")
If you return “QUIETLY and STEALTHILY” and behave like a reasonable person, you will be welcome. If you come back and act like a jerk, you’ll be banned. It’s up to you. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Corrado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a88e4f/32.png) [@John\_Corrado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Corrado)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2000, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flashing-headlights/17381/95 "2000-01-27T21:50:00Z")
Falcon- _I_ think Newton’s Apple is the old GigiloMan. N/A showed up at about the same time that G/M left, and N/A seems to have suddenly picked up this huge anti-David B. attitude that G/M had (and G/M, like N/A, had it to the point of death threats and insinuations of attending the Springfield TM meeting in order to do bodily harm to David B.). But whomever he is or used to be, he’s an oversensitive nut-case with psychotic episodes and delusions of grandeur. * * * JMCJ Just confirming that my ass is, in fact, the wisest part of my body. ---
**Author:** ![Felice](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a88e4f/32.png) [@Felice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Felice)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2000, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flashing-headlights/17381/96 "2000-01-27T21:53:00Z")
Wait a minute…did NewtonsApple get banned? If not, is formerposter him? If so, isn’t that against the new rule forbidding multiple screen names? Not to be a rule jockey or anything, but Newton is beginning to annoy me. And that’s not really easy to do. In Salt Lake City they have the ‘photocops’ to catch speeders. They were greeted with considerable displeasure when they first appeared for the same reasons David cited: you can’t prove it was me driving, etc. The argument against that is, as I understand it, that you are responsible for crimes committed using your posessions. If you loan someone your gun, and he uses it to rob a bank, you are (at least partially) liable. If you give someone your car, and he uses it to speed, you are at least partially liable. If you couldn’t trust him to drive safely and legally, you shouldn’t have given him the car. ## Me, I never worried about it. I long ago discovered a foolproof trick to never getting a speeding ticket. Felice “There’s always a bigger fish.” ---
**Author:** ![David\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/51bf81/32.png) [@David\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_B)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2000, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flashing-headlights/17381/97 "2000-01-27T21:55:00Z")
katmandu said: > [@](#): > > It doesn’t matter whose driving, as long as they are driving your car with your consent (and the onus is on the owner to establish that there was no consent, if that’s the case). Hmmm. Is this a special law that was created in order for these photos to have standing? It sounds ridiculous to me that the police can hold me responsible for speeding because my friend borrowed my car. In fact, it sounds vaguely unConstitutional. > [@](#): > > The owner of the vehicle doesn’t receive any demerits on his licence, only a fine. In that respect, a multinova ticket is similar to a parking ticket. Well, there is that, I guess. I hadn’t thought of it that way. Still sounds like more bullshit to get money rather than working on more serious problems, like crime. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Navigator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/4af34b/32.png) [@Navigator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Navigator)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2000, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flashing-headlights/17381/98 "2000-01-27T22:01:00Z")
car’s don’t commit crime people do. * * * † Jon † Phillipians 4:13 ---
**Author:** ![Felice](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a88e4f/32.png) [@Felice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Felice)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2000, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flashing-headlights/17381/99 "2000-01-27T22:02:00Z")
Okay, just for the record, I DON’T think Newton is Phaedrus. Look what nice things he says about andros! We can also see a multi-word name trend here: Formeragent = MikeylikesIT = Gigoloman=NewtonsApple. But NOT the same as gl0worm or Barretto1, or Phaedrus. * * * Felice “There’s always a bigger fish.” ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2000, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flashing-headlights/17381/100 "2000-01-27T22:11:00Z")
I can’t speak for other states, but in Virginia, the deal is that a photo of your car running a red light creates a rebuttable presumption that it was you driving. You may rebut that presumption when they mail you the ticket by stating in writing, under oath and penalty of perjury, that it wasn’t you. This avoids the constituional problems. - Rick [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flashing-headlights/17381.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flashing-headlights/17381.md?page=6)