Florida judge rules motorists may flash headlights to warn of police presence

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The Courier Mail. MAY 24 2012.

Florida judge rules motorists may flash headlights to warn of police presence

From: NewsCore May 24, 2012 8:04PM

A US judge in Florida has ruled being cited for flashing headlights to warn other drivers of police presence is a violation of the First Amendment.

Ryan Kintner was pulled over cited for "improper flashing of lights" after alerting other drivers in the Heathrow Woods area of Sanford by an officer in an unmarked patrol car, myFOXorlando.com reported.

He was fined $166 and decided to take his case to court.

Attorney Marc Jones said, "You're completely in your rights to flash your headlights. Flashing your headlights is expressive conduct protected by the First Amendment. By issuing a citation, monetary fine for that conduct you've breached the First Amendment rights."

The judge ruled in Kintner's favour.



Jones added, "I believe it's the first time in the country that we've had an official ruling that this type of conduct is protected by the First Amendment."

The Seminole County Sheriff's Office issued a statement saying that it has not issued any citations for flashing headlights recently, because of pending litigation.

Jones said that thousands of drivers in Florida have been wrongly ticketed because of flashing lights.

Read more at myFOXorlando.com.http://www.myfoxorlando.com/story/18...ash-headlights


My comment..Americans have more freedom than us..