Police officers touch tail lights during traffic stops primarily as an "old-school" safety tactic and to leave a fingerprint as evidence if something goes wrong, though modern tech makes it less necessary. The touch can also subtly startle drivers, revealing nervousness or attempts to hide contraband, and confirm the trunk is latched, preventing ambushes.
Tapping or touching the tail light is mainly done by the cops to leave a thumbprint on the glass. In case the officer who conducted the stop is injured or worse, then his fingerprint will be able to connect him to the suspect's vehicle.
Whenever an officer approaches a stopped car, they have to be ready for a potentially dangerous situation. The person they've pulled over may have a firearm or dangerous drugs in their car, so a tap on the tail light can distract them while attempting to hide any contraband.
The steady red and blue lights are meant to increase awareness that law enforcement is there, and unlike flashing emergency lights, drivers don't have to slow down or get out of the way.
They generally vary but often have three basic tiers: Code 1: Respond to the call without lights and sirens. Code 2: Respond to the call with lights only (permissibility varies by jurisdiction). Code 3: Respond to the call using lights and sirens.
Blue lights are reserved for emergency motor vehicles in general, such as police, fire, ambulance, State Emergency Service and traffic commanders. Blue by itself is also used by airport emergency vehicles to designate a command vehicle.
The main reason is to ensure the boot is fully closed and nobody is going to jump out of it and cause harm to the officer. You'll find they mainly touch the boot of a car.
Top Successful Speeding Ticket Excuses
Are Working Tail Lights Required? Tail lights are absolutely necessary for upholding road safety and courtesy, and are furthermore required by law. They are a non-negotiable addition to your vehicle for three main reasons, which is why you need to replace your broken tail lights now.
Even in normal street driving, if you're going to take a turn at full speed, a quick tap of the brakes just before entry or even during entry will help shift the weight or pull the rear end back in line. Even if you don't lose any speed.
(ˈteɪlˌlaɪt ) noun. a light, usually red, at the rear of a vehicle to warn vehicles coming from behind. Webster's New World College Dictionary, 5th Digital Edition. Copyright © 2025 HarperCollins Publishers.
Road rules: headlights
You must not use your headlights on high beam if travelling less than 200m behind a vehicle travelling in the same direction, or when less than 200m from an oncoming vehicle. It is an offence to flash your headlights unless the vehicle is being used to respond to an emergency.
Based on the Land Transportation and Traffic Code or Republic Act 4136, blinking brake lights are arguably illegal.
Q: Can I use colored tape to fix a broken tail light cover? A: Red tape may provide a short-term fix, but it's not a permanent or fully legal solution—proper replacement is required in most areas.
The most believable excuses are short, specific, and tied to legitimate responsibilities or unavoidable situations. Examples include sudden illness, a medical appointment that couldn't be scheduled outside work hours, urgent family needs, or car/transportation issues.
Common Defenses Against Speeding Tickets
Traffic Fine Discounts
While these fines must be paid, the AARTO system offers an incentive for early settlement—allowing drivers to pay only 50% of the fine amount if they clear it within 32 days of receiving the infringement notice. This discount system is currently applicable in: Johannesburg.
Luxury and sports vehicles are more likely to attract a police officer's attention.
Light therapy, and blue light in particular. View Source , can help realign the body's circadian rhythms and improve sleep. Inversely, exposure to blue light in the hours leading up to bedtime can hinder sleep. Blue light suppresses the body's release of melatonin. View Source , a hormone that makes us feel drowsy.
Green lights are used to identify the command vehicle in an emergency scene. They're also widely used on private security vehicles. Blue Lights: Widely utilized by law enforcement agencies, blue lights help distinguish police vehicles from other emergency responders.
It's your coolant temperature light, and its job is to indicate the temperature of your engine. When it's blue, that means your engine isn't quite at the operational driving temperature yet. In other words, the engine hasn't quite heated to the point where it's in optimum driving shape.
While swearing at a police officer is not ideal, it doesn't automatically guarantee an arrest. However, if your language is deemed offensive in a public place, you could face an on-the-spot fine or, in more serious cases, be arrested and taken to the police station.
No, driving 10 km/h under the speed limit isn't inherently illegal, but it can become an offense if it unreasonably obstructs traffic, meaning you're causing congestion or disrupting the flow, especially if you're in the wrong lane or on a fast road without good reason. There's no set minimum speed, but police can fine you under laws like Australia's Rule 125 for impeding other drivers, making the legality dependent on road conditions and your actions.
Generally speaking, yes, it is illegal to flash your headlights to warn drivers of incoming speed cameras. While there are no specific road rules regarding warning other drivers through a car's headlights, the offence could fall under Australian Road Rules Regulation 219.