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Is it illegal to flip someone off while driving?
A lady was following way too close to me on the road so I flipped her off for being totally unsafe. She yelled out her window that she’s going to call the cops on me but—did I actually do anything illegal?
Mary Cahill · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Look, we’ve all been there—sharing the road has its pitfalls at times. But is it actually illegal to flip someone off while driving? The short answer is no.
Although this universal gesture is considered rude or disrespectful, it’s not technically illegal. The First Amendment protects our right to freedom of speech and expression, meaning that it’s not a crime to use “colorful” nonverbal language.
One thing you’ll want to be aware of is law enforcement’s legal interpretation of flipping the bird. There have been cases where police officers have issued tickets for disorderly conduct or improper signaling.
While it’s certainly within your rights to fight such a ticket in court, keep in mind that flipping someone off on the road could be seen as threatening. A good rule of thumb (or…finger) is to try to avoid any kind of negative interaction with fellow drivers—even if they’re totally in the wrong.
On good driving days and bad, it’s important to stay protected with the right
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Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. We aren’t paid for reviews or other content.
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