Flashing headlights law being changed, no longer illegal to warn motorists of police and speed traps

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) -- 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, says 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 says officers may still be able to use other provisions to cite headlight flashers.

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