Re: Flashing Lights in Maryland

Perry Coleman wrote:

> The one message to take from this story is to NEVER flash your lights back
> as a way of saying "Thanks!" That'll get you pinched for sure.

Truckers used to use light signals to communicate back before CB radios.
  There were patterns for "you are clear to pull in ahead of me",
"thanks!", etc.  This was with the running lights and/or low beams of
course...most states prohibit use of high beams on when following
closely behind, or approaching oncoming traffic since they tend to be
blinding at night, and blinded drivers are dangerous drivers.

Maryland is one of four states (according to a web site I found once
that listed driving law differences for the lower 48 states), where you
are not required to "move right" so long as you are doing at least the
speed limit.  This is logical, in that no state has laws intended to
support speeding...that's illegal everywhere.  The "only move right if
overtaken and not doing the speed limit" rule that exists in Maryland
gets superseded by the ones about making way for emergency vehicles, so
things with flashing lights and sirens still get help in speeding.

As far as warning people of speed traps, that could, conceivably, be
considered "interfering with an officer in pursuit of revenue".  I know
of at least one friend who was pulled over for this by a sarcastic cop
years ago.  He handed over his driver's license and registration, and
the cop said, "This isn't yours."  My friend said yes it was and the cop
said, "But this says your name is xxxxx, and given the way you were
flashing your lights at everyone, you MUST be Paul Revere..."

-- Mike B.


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