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Tyler from Port Arthur asks: I was having a conversation about the horn in our vehicles. I’m perplexed on the legality of this law or if it is a law. Can anyone use the horn system to speak to someone on the road? Is it a violation in Texas to see a friend on the roadway and blow the horn to acknowledge him?

Answer: WOW, this is one of those questions that makes me stop in my tracks. The horn system on a vehicle is a safety/warning device and NOT a means to blow at leisure. The horn system shouldn’t be utilized as a conversation device to speak to friends as you motor on the roadway. I know it may sound small, but it is a law. With that said, it is illegal to use your horn to assure you are heard by speaking to someone.

Darlene from Beaumont asks: I know we are in the age of cameras and catching everything on film so to speak. I was wondering what your thoughts are about dashboard cameras that we citizens can install in our vehicles.

Answer: I think you bring up something (dash cameras) that is very popular in other countries and the western states of this country, but it hasn’t bloomed yet in Texas. Dashboard cameras are able to aid law enforcement officers with actual footage of what actually happened prior to, during and even after an event. Dashboard cameras have been able to capture natural disasters like tornadoes, hail, lightning strikes and hurricane force winds. With that said, I don’t think a dashboard camera is a bad thing because it doesn’t require the driver to do anything that would distract them while driving, as long as they turn it on and start recording at the beginning of their journey. We are in the age now where everyone wants to SEE what happened rather than be TOLD what happened. Cameras are EVERYWHERE on cell phones, homes, elevators, businesses, churches, in some cities at the intersections, and many police officers have body cams on their uniform shirt. Dashboard cameras can only HELP you, not hurt.

Homer from Groves asks: A couple of weeks ago I was traveling to Houston and when I got on Interstate 10 the speed limit dropped to 65 mph, but it seemed like nobody was going slower than 75 mph. Would that be a reasonable speed since EVERYONE is doing it, or would it still be considered speeding?

Answer: My constant statement is “you are in control of the vehicle, not the vehicle is in control of you.” I know it’s either tempting of intimidating to join the crowd, but when you KNOWINGLY or UNKNOWINGLY travel above the posted speed limit, YOU are violating the state law of SPEEDING. The best plan of action in this case is get over to the far right lane and let the speeders have it, but you continue to drive legally either AT or BELOW the posted speed limit sign. Don’t ever let someone alter your driving behavior because they are in a hurry or just simply want to speed, unless it’s for the safety of yourself or other motorists on the roadway. Always ask yourself this question when wanting to join speeders. If I was in a department store and everyone was picking up items and running out without paying for them, would I join them or go the register like I’m supposed to and redeem the items.

Join Me, Officer Rickey Antoine and the crew of Stephen “Buzzard Boots” Mosley, Lelo “mouth of Hwy 69/73” I. Washington and Tejas “Lil Man” Morning Star for Ask A Cop live on KSAP 96.9 FM, The Breeze radio station every Tuesday from 1 to 3 p.m. Tune in via the Internet at ksapthebreeze.org. Call in questions live at 409-982-0247. Email questions to rickey.antoine@portarthurtx.gov, call 409-983-8673 for voice mail or mail them to 645 4th Street, Port Arthur, Texas, 77640. If you happen to see me in public, you can always approach and “Ask A Cop!”