Crime

Ticket for flashing headlights to warn of Grain Valley speed trap draws lawsuit


The American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri has sued Grain Valley on behalf of a Kansas man, contending a city policy violates the First Amendment by ticketing drivers for flashing their lights to warn people of speed traps.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri has sued Grain Valley on behalf of a Kansas man, contending a city policy violates the First Amendment by ticketing drivers for flashing their lights to warn people of speed traps. The Kansas City Star

Grain Valley’s alleged policy of ticketing motorists who flash their headlights to warn others of a speed trap is unconstitutional, contends a federal lawsuit filed Wednesday.

The lawsuit, filed on behalf of a Kansas man by the American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri, argued that such a policy violates a driver’s First Amendment right to warn others to drive cautiously.

Jerry L. Jarman Jr. said that a Grain Valley police sergeant ticketed him on Aug. 24 for “interfering with radar by flashing headlights at oncoming motorists to warn them.”

To reach Mark Morris, call 816-234-4310 or send email to mmorris@kcstar.com.

This story was originally published December 3, 2014 at 4:39 PM with the headline "Ticket for flashing headlights to warn of Grain Valley speed trap draws lawsuit."

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