To flash or not to flash?

[Rocking Couple]

see link:

http://www.wheels.ca/article/167046

Not that we need to feel more discouraged with the system than some of us already do, on our roads, but you are better off knowing this than not.
Likely more of an issue in money-hungry Toronto.

[Ivor biggin]

I went to traffic court last fall but unfortunaly I, unlike Mr Diamond, I was guilty and had no defence. Even so I, like everyone else that day, talked to the prosecutor and had my charged reduced. I saved $100+ and one point. Now I didn`t have to take a day off work or travel far to the court so it was well worth it for me to attend. Two tickets were thrown out by the court, one for careless (careless what? asked the JP) and one for 60 in an 80.
My advice? If you can get to court go, you`ll save money, possibly points and you might help slow down this cash cow.

IB:p

[TimP]

Personally, I've stopped flashing my lights - for any reason. An idiot in the way who gets flashed becomes an intentional blocker, and there's enough rage out there already. I won't waste my energy, or my photons, on him.

As for going to court, I agree that it's worthwhile. Back in the photo radar days I got a ticket, then I got mad, then I went to court. As it turned out, there were about twenty of us there that day, all for the same reason. The judge was late coming in, but it was worth the wait. Nobody spoke except the judge who said that there had been an error in the proceedings and all tickets were being dismissed and we were free to go. The conspiracy theorist in me still thinks they were afraid of a challenge that, if successful, would ruin their chances of using photo radar in other ways (ie. red lights), but who knows.

I was hoping for a chance to tell the court what I thought of being penalized for vehicle ownership, and for the institution of what amounted to nothing more than a speed tax, but didn't get the chance. I still took the win.

[RickO]

Personally, I've stopped flashing my lights - for any reason.
I agree.

I stopped waving people on too, as I have heard that some people were found liable when they waved someone through an intersection (indicating that the way was clear) and then the person that was waved collided with another vehicle.

[Malks]

While I do not usually flash oncoming motorists of a speed trap ahead, I will always make an indication to other motorcyclists to slow down if there is a radar trap ahead.

Hell, we all get gouged enough on our insurance in Ontario, so I feel if I can save a fellow rider some of the pain, I will do it! Since the recent court ruling, I feel that it is open season on these tax collectors who set up in passing zones and at the foot of long down hill sections.

IMO, the speed limits in this province are set too far below where they should be anyway. Anyone else remember when the speed limit on the 401 was 70 mph?

[Balaboy]

Malks; I do remember the speed on the 401 being 70 mph-----I was taught and got my licence then!!! But the truth is if you wern't doin' 80 + then you got in the way ,so learning I did, at eighty, in the right lane ,no problems then.
So what is 80 mph in k's? no where close to 100klm's !

[mrspock]

I seem to recall the speeds being reduced here at around the same time the speeds were dropped to 55 MPH in the USA during the fuel shortages of the 70's . Of course this was a great means of increased enforcement and fines that was suddenly available and because so much money is infact generated , there is really no desire to increase it as this is a huge cash cow for the government . Our major highways can easily handle speeds approaching 75 or 80 MPH by design but the chances of them being increased to these speeds is about the same as one going outside and getting struck by lightning ten times while heading out the door on your way to astronaut training right now just after winning the lottery grand prize for the 5th consecutive time ... in other words , no chance in hell it will happen .


spock

[Swervin]

I flash the other day and nearly froze my wee wee off:D;)

[Paddy]

The 401 certainely can handle 70-80 mph, and so can the cars and bikes on it. Problem is so many drivers in this town are either too stupid or don't care enough to be safe.

[RB1]

Oh well, this thread isn't at all what I thought it was going to be about.

[Sidecar Bob]

I read about this on another forum a couple of weeks ago. Here's my take on it:

If the police are operating a radar trap in the interest of public safety (IE: to slow down speeders) and someone warns oncoming drivers of the trap so that they slow down, isn't that person actually helping the police in their duties? If that's the case, instead of trying to charge them under a non-existant law they should be commending them.

Now, if the radar trap was operated as a revenue generator, that's a whole different matter.....

[TimP]

Well said. The post in another thread about police cars sitting alone at the side of the road with lights flashing, waiting to trap motorists who don't know they are now required to exit the right lane or reduce their speed to 65 kph also smacks of less than admirable police "education" tactics.

Is this "serving and protecting", or retribution for the unfortunate outcome of some other idiot driver's actions?

What's next? Idling cruisers waiting to run down a jaywalker? That'll teach 'em some respect for the law, eh?

[arnottski1]

Well said. I always flash. It is a courtesy that I certainly appreciate when someone flashes me. When I lived in Chile the drivers there were very communicative to the point of humour sometimes.