Alright, picture this: it might be daytime or evening. As you drive along, you notice someone approaching you and they begin to blink their high beams. They're attempting to alert you to a potential danger, but what could it be?

When someone flashes their high lights at you, something else also happens. They're alerting you to the fact that the State Police is waiting for you to be stopped with their radar gun.

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But here is the question.
Is it permissible to flash your lights in Texas to alert passing cars to an impending speed trap? Is it possible to interpret this as obstructing the course of justice?

It turns out that this is prohibited in a few states and counties in the United States, something I was unaware of. In the Lone Star State, the law doesn't specifically say that flashing lights to warn of police is illegal. According to the Texas Transportation Code, there are rules about when you can and can't use your high beams. But, there's no clear rule about flashing lights to warn about police.

But:

A federal court in St. Louis ruled that drivers are allowed to flash their lights to warn other motorists of nearby police and speed traps. The court ruled that it’s a first amendment right.

I understand that you have the "First Amendment Right" to flash your lights to alert people to impending speed traps. It makes me wonder whether there are any other kind of signals that I could use to extend my freedom of expression to, say, when I'm driving. Tell someone to stop driving immediately because they are a moron.

I have to find a Mini Mart emergency stop and then get to the restroom, so maybe there's a particular signal to warn people to be on the lookout.

Drive safely, be careful and if you have to flash your lights. You better mean it.

Does Toothpaste Really Clean Your Vehicle's Foggy Headlights? [Life Hack Test]

According to Carhop.com, cloudy headlights are a relatively modern issue. Originally, car manufacturers used glass domes for the front of their headlights until sometime in the 1980s when they switched to "polycarbonate or plastic" I assume because it was cheaper. Unlike glass, plastic is more susceptible to oxidation which is caused by the UV light created naturally by the sun. Dust, debris, and road grime also contribute to clouding up your lights.

They also say toothpaste can be used to clear that cloudiness thanks to the same mild abrasives that also remove plaque and other gunk from your mouth. As someone who has to see it or try it before I believe it, I decided to give it a shot by following their steps and seeing for myself if they were right.

Gallery Credit: Ryan O'Bryan

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