There's a little bit of subversive freedom in a new motor vehicle law that took effect with the New Year. In addition to tweaking the way the Department of Motor Vehicles does its usual business, it specifically legalizes flashing your high beams to warn oncoming motorists of police officers ahead.
According to lawyers who have filed lawsuits to fight headlight flashing tickets, cops and state troopers had been abusing a law that was only designed to prevent motorists from installing law-enforcement style flashing lights on their cars.
The new law specifically allows headlight flashing for whatever reason, but traffic ticket lawyers say the law still prohibits high beams within a certain distance of other cars, and they worry that's a loophole that could continue to squelch speed trap warnings.
Other features of the new law: There will be a few new specialty rags, including one for retired politicians, free ID cards for homeless people, and freedom for school buses to exceed 55 MPH when the speed limit allows it.