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New Law Allows Headlight Flashing For Any Reason

Florida drivers can now flash their headlights and not worry about getting a ticket. A state law that went into effect on New Year’s Day allows brief headlight flashing for any reason.

Florida law still bans people from having flashing lights on their cars unless they’re law enforcement officers or driving emergency vehicles. But the new law adds allows for a quick headlight flash.

Florida Highway Patrol spokesman Lieutenant Jeff Frost said, law enforcement can’t ticket you, no matter why you do it.

“It is not illegal to flash your headlights, notwithstanding your intent for doing so," he said.

Frost said, Florida Highway Patrol had stopped enforcing that part of the law in 2011, but local police departments could still issue tickets until now.

The law changed after a Pinellas County judge threw out a ticket issued to a driver who flashed oncoming drivers to warn them of a speed trap.