I’ve wanted a polite version with thank you and stuff on it but apparently they don’t want any lighting that isn’t described in the drivers manual, essentially.
So new idea: circular laminated paper driven by a motor. Or that individual one flap per letter design.
My dad had a college friend who did this back in the 70s, using all electromechanical components. Relays and solenoids and so forth. Hey, they were engineering students, what do you expect? From what he described it didn’t use a drum to display the messages, but rather had an array of six or seven of them that popped up from below, like bread from a toaster. It fit on the platform between the back seat and rear window of his car.
As the story was recounted to me, he did get hassled by the cops for this at one point due to flipping up one of the more expletive laden signboards at an unmarked patrol car. Ultimately they couldn’t find anything to nail him for over it, though.
Meanwhile, my brother in law keeps one of these in the door pocket in his truck:
array of six or seven of them that popped up from below, like bread from a toaster
That is awesome :D
(Referring to the polite signs here of course)
Interesting how presumably simply the tech at the time led them to a solution that may still be legal today, vs. the cheap AliExpress stuff that the DOT wouldn’t like
Best would be a small LED display that could display a preset phrase, like “thank you” or “you’re blinding me”. The hand is not specific enough, and giving the middle finger will just enrage other drivers.
In my part of California they can’t even pull you over for a missing license plate because the cops were being so racist they basically outlawed traffic stops entirely.
I always wanted a programmable sign that could display messages to asshats behind me
I’ve wanted a polite version with thank you and stuff on it but apparently they don’t want any lighting that isn’t described in the drivers manual, essentially.
So new idea: circular laminated paper driven by a motor. Or that individual one flap per letter design.
My dad had a college friend who did this back in the 70s, using all electromechanical components. Relays and solenoids and so forth. Hey, they were engineering students, what do you expect? From what he described it didn’t use a drum to display the messages, but rather had an array of six or seven of them that popped up from below, like bread from a toaster. It fit on the platform between the back seat and rear window of his car.
As the story was recounted to me, he did get hassled by the cops for this at one point due to flipping up one of the more expletive laden signboards at an unmarked patrol car. Ultimately they couldn’t find anything to nail him for over it, though.
Meanwhile, my brother in law keeps one of these in the door pocket in his truck:
That is awesome :D
(Referring to the polite signs here of course)
Interesting how presumably simply the tech at the time led them to a solution that may still be legal today, vs. the cheap AliExpress stuff that the DOT wouldn’t like
Is it printed with the back of the hand on the other side? Because if that’s the front, it looks like he’s giving himself the finger.
His is a bit higher quality than that one, and I have no idea where he got it. It’s made of closed cell foam and is indeed printed on both sides.
Best would be a small LED display that could display a preset phrase, like “thank you” or “you’re blinding me”. The hand is not specific enough, and giving the middle finger will just enrage other drivers.
EDIT: these exist already as well
LED = illegal even inside the vehicle if I recall correctly, California
What about those Uber and Lyft LED signs drivers put on the dash? Are those banned also?
Ooh great question!
Not sure what the status is here, but I live in the EU
In my part of California they can’t even pull you over for a missing license plate because the cops were being so racist they basically outlawed traffic stops entirely.
I looked into it a while back. You can buy them on AliExpress. Search for “car rear digital sign” or something like that.
I’ve repositioned my side mirror to shine back at them. Usually gets them to back up a little bit.