By admin 
Let’s say you’re driving through Hardeeville and see law enforcement hanging out watching for speeders.
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Can you legally flash your lights to warn oncoming traffic that they are about to enter a speed trap — or as law enforcement likes to call it a traffic enforcement area?
There is no state law against flashing your lights.
But there are other laws that can come into play, Nosal & Jeter Attorneys and Counselors at Law says.
The Fort Mill law firm is known for its dogged defense of people accused of traffic violations and in fact has a list of notorious South Carolina speed traps.
Hardeville is one. Also Turbeville, Santee and Summerton.
They even have a button on their website that says send us your ticket where you can send them a photo and possibly get some help.
Nosal & Jeter says law enforcement could cite you for interfering with an official investigation, having distracting flashing lights and shining high beams at other vehicles, for which you could be fined $200.
“Speed traps are nothing more than a place where people commonly speed. They drive over the speed limit, and the police set up a radar area with generally more than one officer,” Columbia lawyer Dayne Philliips said. “One officer is doing radar, and the other one is pulling people over.”
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They do have a legitimate basis — people speeding through communities or neighborhoods near school or where children are playing.
Here’s their advice — start slowing down as soon as you see the sign the speed limit will decrease, especially if the decrease is large like 60 to 35.
“That is the place that could be considered a speed trap,” the law firm said.
Justica Law says South Carolina law prohibits flashing lights except on an authorized emergency vehicle, school bus or snow-removal equipment.
“A person shall not drive, move, or park any vehicle or equipment upon a highway with a lamp or device on it displaying a red or blue light visible from directly in front of the center of it,” SC Code of Laws says.
So flashing a warning might be a helpful gesture, but it could also get you in some trouble.
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