Another Texas tradition dying out (Houston, Dallas: homes, neighborhood, car)

[TexasHorseLady]

Originally Posted by Trance750

I heard that

Which shows it's not about public safety, but collecting revenue.

Sigh. If you don't violate the speed limit, you won't get a ticket. If you violate the speed limit, you made a choice to violate the law, man up and admit it and accept the consequences without pretending it's about something other than what it is - you broke the law, and the law won!

[lonestar2007]

If I may, let me mention again this thread was started to just see how many people knew what the double flash of the headlights on, lights off meant and if so, how many still practiced it.

It was never intended as a platform for the virtues of not speeding nor the penalties if one does. I was under the assumption that many do not know what it (lights on/off) meant.

[wehotex]

Originally Posted by lonestar2007

Any idea what it means when you see an approaching vehicle's lights flash on and then off, then on and then off and then a short pause and it starts again, on and off - on and off?

I still follow this practice (warning oncoming traffic that they are approaching an active radar), but I'm beginning to think most people don't have a clue as to what it means. I do see a few left who know what I am warning them of and they will give a wave of thanks as they go by me, but I'll tell you, it's getting to be less and less.

Maybe it's just the area I live in (DFW area) and it is still more active in other areas. I sure hate to see it die out, it has saved my butt a few times, that's for sure and I was forever grateful to the person who alerted me. Looks like people would be more than willing to return the favor.

Please note, this is just a post wondering how many are aware of this practice, it is not intended to start the age old debate of 'if you're doing the crime, you do the time' so to speak. You know what I mean here, just please, no posts about how you obey the law and never speed and if people cannot stay within the speed limits, they deserve a ticket. We all know that everyone is capable of slipping up at some time or other and just passing by a patrol car with an active radar gun is just as effective (well, almost )to slowing your butt down as a high dollar ticket is. I'll grant you, the high dollar ticket might encourage you somewhat more to keep an eye on your speed, but believe me, a close call also encourages you to watch your speed in the oncoming months as well because you know you got lucky and you might not be so lucky next time.

Also note, I am not some speed demon, nor do I approve of habitual speed demons. This is just a friendly warning for folks like myself who just happen to not be driving with one eye on their speed at the time for whatever reason and might be going a few miles over the posted limit.

So hopefully, there will be no sermons on the evils of speeding and the self-righteous statements of 'I don't ever speed and you shouldn't either and if you do, you should be hung, etc'. Let's just see who all is aware of the warning practice and what it means. Also, if you are aware of it, do you still do it or do you think that no one is going to return the favor, so why should I warn them? Hopefully not, but I'm afraid this might be the case and that's a shame.

There was a thread about this some time back. I am 48 and can remember my parents and grandfather doing this. So naturally, I've always extended the courtesy as well. But you're right. There are less and less doing it now. I blame it on the selfish attitude that younger ppl have now.

[thenewtexan]

I used to do it all the time in MA, but I hardly EVER see it done anymore. I think it's stupid that people can get a ticket for it. Is that in writing in the law books anywhere?

[wehotex]

Originally Posted by TexasHorseLady

Sigh. If you don't violate the speed limit, you won't get a ticket. If you violate the speed limit, you made a choice to violate the law, man up and admit it and accept the consequences without pretending it's about something other than what it is - you broke the law, and the law won!

this is exactly the kind of comment that the OP did NOT want. Most drivers do their best to observe the speed limits. In fact, it is much easier now that interstates post 75 instead of the ridiculous 55 that they did in years past. If you travel long distances, it is possible that one's mind could wander and not realize that he is going over (unintentionally). Maybe the custom has gone because of the higher speed limits that are allowed now? It's much harder for me to exceed to go over 75 because I usually stick to the interstates and will not travel thru the small town speed traps.

[TexasHorseLady]

My apologies - it was, indeed, inappropriate in this thread. Does the person who made the comment regarding it being solely for revenue get the same slap on the wrist?

[lonestar2007]

Originally Posted by thenewtexan

I used to do it all the time in MA, but I hardly EVER see it done anymore. I think it's stupid that people can get a ticket for it. Is that in writing in the law books anywhere?

Like I said, I always wait until I'm out of their view and then I warn the oncoming traffic for a few miles, then I figured the person coming up behind me can take the reins. Easy enough to do and hopefully I've saved some people from the expense of a ticket.

[debzkidz]

I know what the light flash means. I still see it done occasionally, but not very often. When we lived in Midland, I saw it more often than I did in Houston. Hubby will still do it occasionally.

As for the law about having a TX drivers license after 30 days, it doesn't apply to temp residents like students. I've got a son who just graduated from A&M. He's got a OK drivers license and a car registered in OK. During his 4 years in College Station, he's had more than his fair share of occasions for the police to look at his license. Having a CS address and an OK license has never been a problem.

[ATX Homeboy]

I dont do that anymore bcuz i could b warning a drunk who needs to b picked up. More importantly, the police need to focus on others rather than myself thataway the other guys gettin the ticket instead of me

[SVTRay]

Originally Posted by lonestar2007

Maybe it's just the area I live in (DFW area) and it is still more active in other areas. I sure hate to see it die out, it has saved my butt a few times, that's for sure and I was forever grateful to the person who alerted me. Looks like people would be more than willing to return the favor.

This is something you see more out on some stretch of open highway vs tooling around in the city...especially a large Metro like Dallas. Does the police even attempt to radar in the DFW area? I see a few cops along I-30 around Arlington & FT Worth and every once and a while on the Toll but that's it.