Caution Flag Temporary Taillight

When I loaned my SUV to a friend, and it came back with a broken taillight cover, needless to say I wasn't happy. When I was on my way to order a new taillight, and was pulled and ticketed for the broken one, I was even more dismayed. Telling a cop the circumstances doesn't prevent him from giving you a ticket. Having received one ticket I was petrified that I would receive another and another, since it would be three days before the dealership could order and receive a replacement for me.

In my county, most similar tickets are thrown out of court, if you can prove that you've fixed the problem. Still, it's a hassle to go to the courthouse and spend a wasted day, just to get the ticket thrown out.

So, I was hiding out at home, afraid to drive my truck, when a friend stopped by and gave me a tip. If the taillight is covered in something red, the cops are much less likely to site you for faulty equipment. Brake lights must glow red, not white, as it will with no taillight cover, to prevent getting pulled over and cited.

Most people don't have a piece of red plastic lying around in their homes. As a matter of fact, it's not even easy to find red plastic! Where in the world could I possibly find a piece of red plastic to temporarily cover the taillight? Thank goodness for my friend - who knows all, tells all - and who came up with the perfect solution: a caution flag from a home improvements store.

Home improvement stores often sell loads of lumber that are so long the wood hangs over the bed of the truck that's carrying it. That's a problem for drivers behind the load. Therefore, most states require that the person who's carting the wood affix a red flag to the lumber, to warn drivers that the load protrudes out of the vehicle. These flags are available for free at most any store that sells lumber.

The red flags are made from very thin plastic. The white taillights then appear red since the plastic is thin enough to where the light can easily be seen through it. If the flags your hardware store gives out are too thin, and you fear the wind will rip it immediately, put two flags together and tape into place.