<\/p>\n
California has strict rules about how you\u2019re supposed to use your headlights.<\/p>\n
Andy Alfaro<\/p>\n
aalfaro@modbee.com<\/p>\n
When passing a cop on the shoulder of the road, you might be tempted to warn other drivers.<\/p>\n
Some motorists flicker their headlights to alert others to speed traps, DUI checkpoints or other law enforcement activity up ahead.<\/p>\n
When is flashing your high beams allowed under California law? Can you get a ticket for keeping other drivers informed of a police presence?<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s what you should know:<\/p>\n
Are police allowed to use speed traps in California?<\/p>\n
\u201cThe primary goal of a speed trap<\/a> is to enhance road safety,\u201d according to Ticket Crushers, a law firm with offices in Sacramento, San Francisco, San Jose and Los Angeles.<\/p>\n Speed traps can reduce crashes and prevent reckless driving behaviors, the firm said.<\/p>\n \u201cThe most common definition of a \u2018speed trap\u2019 is a section of highway where a vehicle\u2019s speed is calculated by counting the time it takes to travel between two marked points,\u201d Shouse California Law Group said.<\/p>\n In California, however, law enforcement officers are barred from using speed traps to arrest people<\/a> on suspicion of vehicle code violations, including speeding.<\/p>\n In other words, a vehicle\u2019s speed cannot be admitted into evidence if it was \u201cobtained or determined by using a speed trap,\u201d the Southern California law firm said.<\/p>\n Law enforcement officials may use radar, infrared light or laser technology to track how fast drivers are going<\/a> on the road, said Veil, which sells products aimed at making cars less visible to police speed guns and traffic cameras.<\/p>\n Can I flash my headlights to warn other drivers?<\/p>\n California has specific rules about when you\u2019re required to use your vehicle\u2019s headlights<\/a>, and how.<\/p>\n \u201cYour vehicle\u2019s headlights help you see what is in front of you,\u201d the California Department of Motor Vehicles says in its California Driver\u2019s Handbook. \u201cThey also make it easier for other drivers to see your vehicle.\u201d<\/p>\n Using your high-beam headlights<\/a>, also known as brights, can provide extra visibility that\u2019s \u201ccrucial in spotting hazards like wildlife, stalled vehicles, or sharp turns on dark roads, State Farm says.<\/p>\n You should \u201cdim your high-beam headlights to low beams\u201d within 500 feet of a vehicle coming toward you or within 300 feet of a vehicle you are following, the California Driver\u2019s Handbook says.<\/p>\n You should \u201cavoid glare<\/a> at all times regardless of road contour,\u201d California Vehicle Code said.<\/p>\n Flashing your headlights to alert other drivers is illegal under California law.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you flash your high beams at an oncoming vehicle at night, you could be cited for temporarily blinding other drivers<\/a>, creating a dangerous situation,\u201d said Ultra Bright Lightz, a car lights retailer in New York.<\/p>\n Can I use my turn signals or warning lights to alert motorists?<\/p>\n You\u2019re not allowed to use your vehicle\u2019s flashing amber warning lights<\/a> except \u201cwhen an unusual traffic hazard exists,\u201d the California Vehicle Code says.<\/p>\n You\u2019re allowed to use flashing turn signal lamps<\/a> when indicating your intention to turn right or left on a roadway.<\/p>\n You can also use flashing turn signals to \u201cwarn other motorists of accidents or hazards on a roadway\u201d or alert them to the presence of your broken-down car, California law says.<\/p>\n Vehicles in a funeral procession are allowed to flash their turn signals as warning lights.<\/p>\n If you spot a \u201ccollision or hazard\u201d up ahead, the DMV recommends using these methods to warn drivers behind you:<\/p>\n Turn on your emergency flashers.Lightly tap your brake pedal three or four times.Use a hand signal when slowing and stopping.What are the penalties for not dimming your lights?<\/p>\n If you\u2019re caught failing to dim your headlights when approaching another car, you could face a fine of $238<\/a> and lose one point on your California state driving record, Shouse California Law Group said.<\/p>\n If drivers have a certain number of points on their records, they risk having their driving privileges suspended<\/a>.<\/p>\n Loading\u2026<\/p>\n Related Stories from Sacramento Bee<\/p>\n