Fog lights
All three options for their use are indicated in paragraph 19.4. Thus, “fog lights” can be used in case of insufficient visibility and at night in unlit areas together with low or high beams. And also - instead of daytime running lights and low beams during daylight hours. At the same time, fog lights and rear fog lights are turned on and used separately, and these rules do not apply to lights, writes the Kolesa.ru website. The rules for using the latter are specified in clauses 19.3 and 19.7 of the Traffic Regulations.
How can you challenge a fine for blinking your high beams?
If you come across, frankly, an inadequate traffic cop, then this is how you can avoid a fine for blinking your high beams. Firstly, if you enter into a predictable and diplomatic dialogue with a police officer, you can always mention that blinking your high beams in an alternative case can be punished not with a ruble, but with a warning. All under the same article 12.20 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation.
Secondly, blinking is essentially allowed when overtaking. Perhaps there was such a situation. See paragraph 19.11 of the traffic rules above.
Thirdly, if this does not help, then have the inspector write in the protocol which clause of the traffic rules you violated. This will not be easy to do. Since, in fact, blinking with high beams is not limited in any of the traffic rules. As a result, such a protocol can be protested in the same traffic police by filing an appeal.
In the end, if, after all, some not quite normal traffic cop issued a fine, then today’s legislation allows you to pay for violations under Article 12.20 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation with a 50 percent discount. To do this, you must pay the fine no later than 20 days from the date of the decision.
Spotlight and searchlight
If they are installed, they can be used in accordance with clause 19.6 of the Traffic Regulations. According to it, ordinary drivers can use them only outside populated areas in the absence of oncoming traffic.
Many car owners have encountered the fact that after several years of active use of the car, the protective glass of the headlights becomes cloudy. The simplest thing, if funds allow, is to change the glass or headlight unit. However, it doesn't come cheap. You can restore transparency to your headlights not only at the service center, but also at home using improvised means, which will help save money.
When you can and should switch
The use of high beams is covered in Article 19 of the traffic rules. This type of car light can be used on unlit country roads and in tunnels in the absence of oncoming traffic. Also, paragraph 11 allows the use of flashing as a signal warning passing vehicles about planned overtaking (instead of using a sound signal). Such actions are regarded as a way to reduce accidents on the roads; they are permitted by law.
*The traffic police post can stop the car due to flashing car lights, considering that the glow mode is being violated or the headlight is faulty. Such problems are often found in halogen lights; a more reliable option for car lights is LED headlights.
Is it possible to blink high beams?
Studying information becomes the key to answering questions. The bottom line is that there is nothing criminal in the actions of the drivers .
One of the paragraphs of the article allows for blinking headlights if there is a need to warn other drivers . In particular, informing about overtaking.
Another clause obliges drivers to activate low beams in certain situations (thus transmitting information). For example, if the headlights are blinding. That is, the law allows drivers to communicate using light signals.
Emergency signaling is generally considered a method of communication that is applicable in many situations. It can be used to express gratitude or apology. There are many other options.
Accordingly, issuing fines based on the article is permissible in exceptional cases . For example, if the driver decides to drive with high beams during the day or at night on a street illuminated by lamps.
On what basis are people fined for blinking headlights?
When traffic police officers try to fine a driver for blinking high beams, they use Article 12.20 of the Administrative Code. It prescribes a fine of 500 rubles. for violating the rules for using lighting devices. This wording is quite vague, so you need to clarify which rule was violated. To do this, let's turn to the traffic rules. The only point that in this case can justify the actions of inspectors is 19.2, which establishes situations when high beams cannot be used. According to the Rules, the high beam must be switched in any situations where it can dazzle other road users: on illuminated roads within populated areas or when there is a car moving in the oncoming lane at a distance of less than 150 meters.
Thus, a fine for blinking high beams may seem very reasonable, because the driver turns it on when there are cars in the oncoming lane. The traffic police officer may even say that the offender was deliberately trying to blind oncoming drivers. However, not all so simple.
In what cases are car owners allowed to blink their headlights?
Traffic experts and experienced motorists say that briefly turning on and off high beam headlights has nothing criminal. Article 12.20 of the Administrative Code says in black and white that blinking is permitted if other road users need to be warned about overtaking or other maneuver.
Another paragraph states that in certain situations, activation of the high beam headlights is necessary to transmit information. For example, if the headlights are very blinding. In this regard, we can conclude that at the legislative level, vehicle owners can communicate using light signals. In many situations, hazard warning lights are used as a method of transmitting information, which motorists use to express gratitude or apologize.
Accordingly, fines can be issued, guided by Article 12.20 of the Administrative Code, only in exceptional cases (if the driver drives with high beam headlights during the day or at night on a section of the highway that is illuminated by lanterns).
It is also noteworthy that some car owners who have already been fined once simply do not use light signals to warn others about ambushes.
Does a traffic police officer have the right to issue a fine to a driver for blinking?
Due to the fact that many motorists show driver solidarity on the road and warn their “colleagues” about traffic police patrols, it has become difficult for inspectors to issue the number of fine reports that the authorities need. That is why, guided by far-fetched pretexts, some of them began to fine such car enthusiasts.
Thus, for non-compliance with the rules for operating lighting devices, the fine is 600 rubles, although in the traffic rules and in Article 12.20 of the Code of Administrative Offenses there are no terms such as “blinking” or “flashing headlights”. Paragraph 11 of Section 19 of the Traffic Regulations even states that in order to warn about overtaking, it is recommended to use a light signal instead of a sound signal.
If a traffic police officer accuses you of flashing your high beams without any reason, you have every right to answer that you warned traffic participants about overtaking or asked the driver of the oncoming car not to blind you. If a protocol was issued to you, in the line of explanation you need to enter one of the above reasons that would explain your action.
What sanctions threaten for driving without lights in 2021
A car enthusiast should be able to use different headlights, depending on where he is driving and when.
In what cases does the traffic police inspector have the right to issue a violation report:
- If the road user does not turn it on during the day.
- If lighting is used incorrectly at night.
- If the driver turns on the fog lights when there is no reason to do so.
At night, headlights perform a double function - they provide visibility on the road for the driver and inform others about the presence of a moving vehicle. For a stationary car, it is enough to turn on the side lights or hazard warning lights.
Night driving has its own characteristics due to the fact that high beams can blind other road users. It is allowed to include:
- When driving on country roads, if there are no other cars. A motorist should switch to low beam lighting if an oncoming car appears or he has caught up with the vehicle in front.
- When driving on an unlit road through a populated area. The rules for switching to low beam do not change.
If a car is driving on a road with lights, then only low beam headlights are allowed. High beams can blind not only drivers, but also pedestrians.
Driving without lights during the day has been prohibited for several years. Automatic recording of violations of this plan does not work as well as law enforcement agencies would like. If a traffic cop stops a car on the road with its headlights off, the protocol will be drawn up under Article 12.20 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation.
The inspector may impose a fine of 500 rubles or warn the driver about the violation. A warning is issued to disciplined, polite motorists or beginners.
To avoid getting violated, the car owner can use low beam or running headlights. You cannot turn on high beams or fog lights.
If the headlights do not work, the driver will be punished under Article 12.5. The amount of the penalty does not change. The administrative protocol is drawn up on site. You can challenge it within 10 days.
Traffic rules prohibiting blinking high beams
So, we take the traffic rules book and look for it. Although it is possible virtually, that is, on the Internet - traffic rules. In fact, this document will be key to finding any flaws in the driver’s behavior. So the entire section number 19 “Use of external lighting devices and sound signals” of the SDA is dedicated to the rules for using light and sound devices. Let's quote the main thing.
19.2 High beam must be switched to low beam: in populated areas, if the road is illuminated; when passing oncoming traffic at a distance of at least 150 m from the vehicle, and also at a greater distance, if the driver of the oncoming vehicle periodically switching the headlights indicates the need for this; … 19.5. During daylight hours, all moving vehicles must have low-beam headlights or daytime running lights on to indicate them. … 11/19. To warn of overtaking, instead of a sound signal or together with it, a light signal may be given, which is a short-term switching of the headlights from low to high beam.
Here we have collected points that specifically provide for the facts of switching the light from high to low or vice versa. Please note that nothing is said here about briefly turning on or off the light. That is, in fact, blinking the light is not reflected in any way as a prohibited fact. From this we can conclude that if an inspector stops a driver for blinking his lights, then he will have to look not for objective - direct facts of traffic violations, but for some alternative variations. If the inspector decides to issue a fine.
