Speed-Trap Tipoff Tickets in Delaware Lead to ACLU Lawsuit

A town police department in Smyrna, Delaware, is facing a lawsuit over its ticket-writing policies after the Delaware American Civil Liberties Union said police wrongly ticketed a driver who flashed his headlights to warn fellow motorists of a speed trap.

The Delaware ACLU says the flashing-headlights ticket is one among several violations by the Smyrna Police Department, including an allegation that Smyrna police improperly arrested a man for cursing at an officer.

The News Journal of Wilmington reports that the ACLU filed a federal civil rights complaint on Monday. The group says that flashing lights to communicate to other drivers is a protected form of speech. The driver was ticketed with improper use of a turn signal.

Town officials declined comment to The News Journal.