Can You Believe Someone Actually Used Flashlights as Headlights?
People craft a lot of ingenious automotive tech. From artificial intelligence to camera-based sensors, new car tech gets more robust with each passing model year. Despite our overall upward trajectory, there are some moments that take us down a notch and make us more humble. That’s exactly what I felt when I heard of someone using flashlights as headlights.
In an amazing moment of clarity, a Washington state police officer pulled over a driver on Interstate 90 for one thing in particular. They were using flashlights as headlights (and no, it doesn’t matter whether or not they were LED).
Flashlights as headlights: An apropos end to the wreck of a year that was 2020
Now, I’m not even going to pretend that the convergence of calendar years means that a bad luck streak is bound to end. We all know that early 2021 has been wrought with unfavorable events already. But it seems absolutely fitting that someone was pulled over for using flashlights as headlights in December.
Reportedly, the guilty driver got into an accident previously and their headlights got all smashed up. Instead of paying to have them replaced (or simply paying for an aftermarket headlight set and DIY-ing it themselves), the driver decided they didn’t need real headlights after all. Instead, they figured, they’d use flashlights.
In an interview with CNN, Washington State Police officer Rick Johnson talked about how he noticed the driver’s headlights were awfully dim while driving on the interstate near North Bend. Upon closer inspection, the officer was able to conclude that the subject was, in fact, using flashlights as headlights.
It shouldn’t surprise you to find out that this is illegal.
Image Source: CNN
Amazingly, the officer reported that the flashlights were even dim for flashlights themselves.
So, what’s the charge for using flashlights as headlights?
If you get pulled over for using flashlights as headlights, an officer has to charge you with something. But what exactly is the offense?
Failing to use headlights or driving without headlights is a common traffic violation. Depending on where you live, this charge can incur a ticket with a fine of up to $200. You can get headlights for less than that (the driver was in a ninth-generation Chevy Impala; a pair of headlights for this ride costs about $100).
In addition to the fine associated with the ticket, many drivers who are cited with driving without headlights must attend some sort of traffic school class. These classes often cost a fee, which can run up to $75.
Technically, you can defend yourself against any traffic violation, but some are more likely to be overturned than others. Driving headlight-less is not one of them, and using flashlights as headlights is an even more rank violation. All things considered, I sure would love to see that Washington driver try to defend their actions.
As for the officer who stumbled upon this wild card of a vehicle owner, he can’t seem to conjure up a rational reason why someone would do this.
“I don’t know of any car manufacturer that duct tapes flashlights to the front of their cars upon sale,” the officer told CNN. “But you know, I guess this is 2020, right?”
Using flashlights as headlights is not the only DIY extremism we’ve seen
https://www.facebook.com/AlbertaSheriffs/posts/10158557725294736
Believe it or not, this move is far from the only one we’ve seen on the streets. In June 2020, one driver decided to use their sedan to tow a hot tub with a small wooden cart. In that same time frame, a guy in an aging pickup truck decided to try to haul a double wide trailer through Alberta, Canada. Everything about these statements is wrong, but sometimes you just can’t reason with human beings.
The only thing I’ve learned from these stories is this. I’m grateful for commercial and industrial shipping professionals who do their jobs right.
Anyway, I’m off to duct tape some flashlights to the front of my sedan.
What is your reaction?
lol
People never fail to surprise me.
2020 was the year of the Macgyvers it seems! I understand why you want the cheap immediate fix, but the cost can be far greater in the end. Whether it be a ticket or an accident due to the dim lights, it is better to just get the proper fix.
This article is hilarious. People never cease to amaze me. I will say they are creative.
This is perfect! If the person who owns this car reaches out to me by replying to this post (and proves they are the real owner) I’ll send them a set of headlights for free :).
I would be so nervous. I would never try to attempt this.
So I guess I’m the only one who feels there are some good reasons which call for flashlights to be used for headlights. I myself am currently in a situation where I’m finding myself needing to use my nicely charged LED flashlights as headlights, Which let me add are brighter than my headlights if they worked. I went grocery shopping one evening and when I came out of the store it was already dark. When I got in my truck to leave the headlights would not come on. I know they both did not just go out at the same time and that this is a wiring issue because the wiring has been a headache as long as I’ve owned it. I’m the kind of woman who carries a little bit of a large toolbox with her every where she goes. I guess you could say I learned this from when I went through my divorce and suddenly had to become a little bit of a plumber, and mechanic, and electrician and yada yada real fast but as hard as I’ve tried I cannot figure out the wiring mess the tweaker who owned the vehicle before me left for the next buyer to fix. I honestly am no mechanic and I have no money to get this truck fixed. I am disabled but don’t even get ssdi. My daughter got me this truck and it technically is a great running truck it just has a few issues I cannot afford to fix. I don’t take it out at night but that one incident when they both went out I needed to get home I had no choice but to stay on my flash lights. I did call the few people I know for help but wasn’t able to get any. So you see there was nothing left for me to do. I couldn’t walk home with my groceries. If there was a better solution that was suitable for me that I could have done that I am not thinking of please. Let’s hear it. And no I can’t afford an uber or lyft.