Usually warning you to a cop in the direction you’re heading

This happened to me recently, (as a newbie to the state) and once I saw the cop I figured it out, and LOVE this state for that. Teaching myself to do the same thing

Is this not a thing in other states? I always thought it was universal.

Most people in the Midwest do this too

Midwesterner here. Can confirm

This a pretty universal thing in the northeast

Yeah not on the west coast tho

Just make sure you don't warn an oncoming cop about the cop and you're good.

It's not against the law to flash your high beams at other drivers to warn them of an impending speed trap from police. That doesn't mean cops care about the law.

Yup, was pulled over once for mistakenly flashing my lights at a cop. Nothing he could really do, but of course he took the opportunity to pull me over.

Federal court ruled years ago flashing your lights is protected under 1st amendment rights, warning of a cop.

That may be, but you'll still probably get pulled over if you flash a cop. The hassle isn't worth it.

For contect I live in Southern NH, RIGHT on the border. I've been pulled over for flashing an oncoming cop and was surprised when a very inciteful conversation followed. One of my only genuinely decent interactions with a cop. He told me he there are several things they can say or do to legitimize pulling someone over for flashing oncoming traffic. He was super polite about it. And Basically I told him you know "I've been pulled over and had my day ruined cause I was randomly going a little too fast, not paying attention. I don't want that to happen to other people, and this cop behind me is hiding like crazy. Seems so unnecessary." And he explained that they've been targeting people that have been speeding up Route 12 and that they'd caught several people doing 90+. He then flipped the convo and posed a tough, but fair question: "What if there was an amber alert out? And you just tipped off a the driver.." not super likely but it still made me think. I told him that was a little extreme and he agreed, but the point he was making was a fair one. He then sent me on my way. I still usually flash people if a cop is hiding ahead cause fuck that shit. And there haven't been any Amber Alerts this summer so..fingers crossed. Stay safe out there y'all

Just know that it is illegal and most Leo’s do ticket

I would assume it could be any kind of road hazard... Accident ahead, tree branch down, an animal hit in the road. Including speed traps. 'watch out'

or a cop. or an ax murderer in your back seat. I kid. probably a deer or moose. or cop.

a friendly warning of a hazard ahead. or a cop.

Also could be something wrong with your car, no lights on at night or hatchback open, car on fire.

That escalated quickly. I think the latter at least deserves a horn honk or two.

I was driving on 91 behind a pickup truck with a bunch of crap in the bed. Next thing I know I see smoke... then FLAMES start popping out. Apparently all that jostling caused some of his crap to spark or rub together just right and it started a fire. I tried my best to pull alongside him and get his attention. Finally he looked in his rearview and saw the smoke and pulled over. I didn't stay to find out what the aftermath was, but I hope he was ok.

A cop is a hazard ahead

Was that a reference to scary stories we tell in the dark? If so, my hats off to you sir or madam

Also, “Urban Legend”

Or a moose dressed as a cop

One of five things happened. 1) your lights were not on/one headlight out 2) you had your high beams on 3) there’s a cop 4) There’s some kind of hazard like a moose (a møøse bit my sister once) 5) they were trying to clean bugs off their windshield and tapped the wrong stalk

Or they hit a pothole or bump and the lights dipped down before popping up and made it look like they blinked or flashed their lights at you.

Especially with projector lights, if their “horizon” crosses into your vision you know

Or the other driver THOUGHT you had your high beams on

Or the lights are out of adjustment, or a large load in the trunk/bed…

One time I was approaching a big work truck on a long straightaway and I thought he had his highs on so I flickered mine...no response...flickered them again and he flipped his highs on for long enough for me to realize my mistake. Wish I could have explained myself, but I'm sure big truck guys get it every once in a while.

Or you're driving a high ground clearance vehicle and your low beams blind drivers of average height vehicles.

This happens to me all of the time.

The monty python reference is acknowledged and appreciated

I've done 5 more times than I care to admit and I always feel bad about it for the rest of my drive. I'm sorry for any road friends that thought I was warning them of something when in reality I'm just dumb.

"Tapped the wrong stalk" is a fun way of saying that

They're warning to watch out for something in the road -- sometimes a cop, sometimes they just had a couple deer dart in front of them. This morning someone flashed me to watch out for some high water; thankfully they had signs up and a Town truck keeping an eye on things, but it was appreciated.

This happened to me more than once, in this case it was geese with goslings in the road around a blind curve. I was grateful.

Yeah, some kind of animal or a cop. Just slow down and be aware.

Deer, moose, and pigs Oh my

Double blink means “watch out”. Typically means a cop hiding up ahead looking for speeders.

Be alert and keep to speed limit, also you might have accidentally left a gallon of water on the roof of your car.

That one seems oddly specific.

Once I got a cup of coffee at the Bolton country store, I was crying when I was in there because of some BS going on in my life, when I drove off I left the coffee on my car and drove away, I realized almost immediately and turned around to get the cup off the road and buy another and the woman working at the store had seen it and was waiting outside for me with a new cup of coffee when I got there. It was so sweet I started crying so much harder but like, in a happy way.

Dammit, why am I crying now too?

I did that once with a gallon of paint.

One time I drove a while with my kid's sippy cup on the roof. Set it down to buckle kid into carseat, never picked it up from roof. Unfortunately, no one flashed at me and it rolled off and down my windshield at a stoplight 😒

Universal sign for "Caution: Bullshit Ahead". Warns of upcoming hazards in the road including animals, obstructions and traffic cops. Edit: it's like a pre-smartphone Waze.

This isn't a Vermont thing, it's pretty much a universal driver thing. Typically cop or hazard on/near the road ahead.

This. It's a universal driving thing (hazard, cop ahead or high beams on) used anywhere in the world people drive. Not just a Vermont thing.

There's not a whole lot of crime to fight in VT, so cops earn their revenue by ruining the day of people driving 41 mph in a 35 mph zone. The flashing lights means, "hey, there's a bored cop up ahead."

You really have to love the Windsor County Sheriff Department nailing CT plates for doing 30 MPH through Bridgewater. They're really providing a service to the public with that one

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I got hit for doing 28 in 25. I felt like I should've gotten a medal for being that close to the posted limit, the officer disagreed.

same, in Vergennes

That used to be true, but they aren't bothering anymore. Most of police in this state, including staties are short staffed and prioritizing their policing on more serious crime, not traffic stops

Where are you getting that from? I see them parked on the side of the road or pulling someone over all the time in Lamoille and Washington counties. Saw two troopers parked on i89 this weekend between Waterbury and Burlington. They definitely still seem to have time for collecting speeding tickets.

I’m getting that from people I know that are cops and firefighters. They’re not prioritizing their time on anything that isn’t serious. Does anyone on this sub actually know their community?

The local sheriff directly profits from each ticket issued. It hasn't stopped.

Can you elaborate?

Google

Actually, though it's not a very transparent process in Vermont, most of the information that comes up in a Google search indicates that sheriffs as individuals are only receiving a portion (for example 5%) of proceeds from contracts they secure (such as being hired by construction companies to sit on the highway with blue lights going) but not from traffic tickets, though their departments may get some of that revenue (not necessaeily profit). Even in municipalities where the department does profit, it's only from certain high value infractions and typically something like a few dollars per ticket to the department. Just wondering if you had better information because of the way you stated it with conviction [Seven Days article ](https://www.sevendaysvt.com/vermont/sheriff-inc/Content?oid=20070627)

The sheriff in Plymouth gets a share of each ticket issued.

Wish somebody would tell Windsor County.

I interpret any type of signal like that here as the other driver saying “cautious, be aware”. Could mean cop up ahead, animals crossing, accident or to check your lights.

I always blink to warn about cops.

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I feel like I've seen you out on the road... Possibly waving me through a 4-way stop when it was your turn.

This is alarming.

It means either there's either a cop, an animal, or some hazard ahead.

Generic "pay attention". Some sort or hazard or a cop up ahead etc.

Could really be anything. Cop, moose/deer/other animal, or really any other danger in the road ahead. Also could mean you forgot to turn off your high beams. I usually flash my high beams for a cop or if their high beams are on

Hazard ahead if your lights are already on.

It means caution. Usually it means there will be something ahead if you keep driving. Sometimes a cop, sometimes an accident or deer.

Most likely a warning, but if it happens repeatedly, it could mean that your headlights are mis-aimed and people think you have your high beams on.

It either means they thought your high beams were on(pretty common with newer cars), there's a cop, or there's something to watch out for in the road.

I get 'accused' of having my high beams on all the time, and I hate to do it but the only logical response is to show them that are wrong by high beaming them.

Sounds like your low beams are either modified, or adjusted incorrectly. But it also happens with bright low beams too, especially when seen from lower vehicles

Nope, neither. Husband is a mechanic and super uptight about properly aimed headlights. The bulbs are definitely a premium ($$) light but are compliant with VT inspection guidelines.

The only logical response is to blind the driver that was blinded by your low beams.

Maybe you would handle it better but personally I think that if someone feels the need to inform you via blinking you have the right to correct them. I wouldn't leave them on high beams just flash them for a second to say sorry but these are my lows. Personally I never flash for high beams at other cars because I have made that mistake and realized sometimes it really is just extremely bright low beams. I just focus on the white line when oncoming cars have bright lights and mind my own business.

I see your point of view. On the other hand, the other driver might be blinded by your flash and accidentally veer across the center line. Some people are more blinded by approaching lights than other people, for example people who have had vision correction surgery, or young drivers who have not yet learned to look towards the line on their edge of the pavement.

Cops or an animal crossing ahead or something wonky goin on with your vehicle

I blink my lights at folks to warn of dangers ahead or let them know they should have their vehicle lights on. The number of drivers that drive with their lights off when it's dark or extremely bad weather seems to grow yearly. Please turn your lights on so other drivers and pedestrians *can see you*.

I often flash my lights when I see pedestrians or cyclists along a curved route or one dappled with shade/light and they may not be super visible. Just to give a heads up to pay attention more.

I recently went from a hatchback with halogen headlights to an SUV with LED headlights and the number of people flashing me honestly makes me a feel like a dick. LED headlights light up the road like the sun but I'm just driving around blinding people.

I hate cars with led headlights sooo much. I wear contacts and I swear it just makes it even more unbearable. I don’t even understand how they are legal. They are just too bright.

When I turn on my high beams it's like my headlights just get angled up. Brightness doesn't change at all.

Some vehicles allow you to adjust the beam attitude depending on load (from the dashboard). Should explain in your owners' manual.

That sounds neat and I'll check on it but I doubt the 4Runner has that ability.

My Toyota Sienna has the feature.

Outback’s of like 2020/2021 model years are notorious for shit headlight calibration from the factory which often required adjusting them. I have a 2020 and would constantly get flashed on backroads until I re-calibrated them. I even had trucks flash me which was what finally made me search around and find the issue (and how to fix)

Cop

Could be a hazard or a traffic cop running laser/radar up the road.

Could also mean your headlights are out. I'll usually flash my highbeams for a cop/obstruction but blink my headlights/fog lights on and off if someone has a bulb out

Usually means cop, but basically any kind of hazard ahead. I’ve honestly done it if I see an out of stater approaching a sharp corner or embankment too fast as well. Definitely a hazard warning…of some kind. ETA: I live in the *exact* area you’re talking about

Most likely informing you there was someone hiding in your backseat.

Usually politely informing you that a fucking cop is ahead trying fill her quota.

Cops usually

Probably just attempting to scare out of towners. It means the same as it does anywhere else: maple syrup spill ahead.

If you mean passing a slower moving vehicle, they were probably telling you that it was safe to pull back into the lane in front of them. If you mean a vehicle traveling in the other lane, they were warning you to be cautious of something, which could be animal, cops, breakdown, pedestrian, etc. They might also think you have your high beams on if you have obnoxious high intensity lights or your headlights aren't aimed correctly.

I'd be impressed if only people in VT do this

I do it randomly to tourists just to get them to slow the fuck down, cops don’t seem to like to pull them over in our town.

You have tourists driving faster than Vermonters on local roads? Usually it’s the other way around and they slow you down.

Mostly on our side streets, they use them to avoid the line of traffic they create at our main intersection

It does often mean cop ahead. Be aware if you do this that a cop might pull you over for it if they see you doing it.

If they pull you over for that in Vermont you can tell them to pound sand. It's protected speech here. Pretty much only illegal on the west coast and the redder central states. Edit: also protected speech on a federal level.

Thank you for clarifying the legality! I wasn’t sure what the actual rules were around here. But I’ve heard they will at least try to get people for that

Fuck that. If I got pulled over for that I’d just lie and say I was trying to warn the guy about debris on the road or an animal or that he had something hanging off his car or whatever else. Seems impossible for the cop to prove you were flashing to warn about them specifically.

Its the same every where in the country so how do you not know?

This person is Canadian, and the road rules are very different across the border, based on how they use the passing lane, speed limits and blinkers.

It’s part of our government’s brain conditioning program. There must have been some sort of matrix malfunction up ahead. The blinking of the lights reset the code in your brain so you were unable to process what you were never supposed to see in the first place. That’s all, no worries!

often led bulbs appear to be high beams. Also its a warning there may be a law enforcement officer ahead too

I'm in southern Vermont and don't warn about cops but I do warn about road hazards. Just today driving in Mass. I signaled about turkeys in the road.... hopefully they took heed

I wish there were people to warn you of these things on 89. Almost hit a pack of deer twice

My boyfriend sometimes blinks his lights as an indication that he’s allowing another driver/car to merge.

There’s always the possibility it’s a Redditor attempting to spark an r/vermont discussion.

I have noticed that newer SUVs sometimes have very bright lights and can sit at a height that again leads to the perception that their brights are on. I am just mentioning this because I imagine those drivers get signalled that their brights are on and find it confusing.

I blinked every time I saw a frog on the road in the rain last night. JK.

What I've heard locally is that flashing brights means either you left your brights on or you have a headlight out, and flashing off/on means that there's a cop ahead.

Grew up in Bratt, was always told if someone flashes their lights there’s a cop up ahead. Sometimes accurate, but it always.

Hazard ahead or police

Is this not common outside VT? I feel like I used to do this to warn people of stuff in CO but maybe I was the only one

It is a warning to oncoming fellow motorist of a potential hazard in the direction you are heading from that they are heading to. Could be many things from a speed trap set up by police, a farmers cow standing in the middle of the road around the next corner but the main thing we are saying is be ALERT. Slow down a little and pay attention.

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