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Friday, May 24, 2013 | 1:44 a.m.

Posted: 10:26 a.m. Monday, Dec. 31, 2012

New Fla. law permits headlight-flashing warnings

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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. —

Flashing your headlights to alert oncoming drivers that police are lurking on the roadside ahead will no longer be against the law in Florida.

A provision legalizing such speed trap warnings is part of a wide-ranging motor vehicle law going into effect Tuesday.

A lawyer who has represented ticketed motorists, though, said it still has loopholes police could use to pull over headlight-blinking drivers.

The law amends one section of Florida's existing traffic code police have relied upon, but Oviedo attorney J. Marcus Jones said officers may still be able to use other provisions to cite headlight flashers.

For example, drivers can still be cited for "failure to dim headlights," said Jones.

Jones said he believes it's an issue of free speech.

Jones said 10,000 drivers in Florida have been ticketed for flashing lights.

Other changes in the new law range from a free state-identification cards for homeless people to new specialty license plates. It also would let the state issue specialty driver licenses.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

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