Little blue lights etc.

[PetrolTed]

Ok, don't take the piss you lot but I was emailed the following question and wondered what the law actually was. I suspect they are illegal but could someone give a more authorative answer?

enquirer said:

Don't know if you have any info, but is it legal to add these little blue lights to your washers, wheels, reg plate, etc and is it also legal to have the blue neons under your car ? I have been told by a work collegue that it is illegal but I have been told bye my mate who is a dibble that it is legal. Can you clear it up for me.

[Mr E]

Neons under the car is legal, as long as the tube isn't visible.

Visible blue light sources are a I think.

[mrflibbles]

PetrolTed said:

Ok, don't take the piss you lot but I was emailed the following question and wondered what the law actually was. I suspect they are illegal but could someone give a more authorative answer? enquirer said: Don't know if you have any info, but is it legal to add these little blue lights to your washers, wheels, reg plate, etc and is it also legal to have the blue neons under your car ? I have been told by a work collegue that it is illegal but I have been told bye my mate who is a dibble that it is legal. Can you clear it up for me.

I think the more pertinent question is:

WTF is a dibble?


>> Edited by mrflibbles on Wednesday 2nd June 20:02

[Balmoral Green]

Top Cats freindly neighbourhood Officer Dibble.

[Flat in Fifth]

Briefly..... (haha!)

Road Vehicle Lighting Regs 1989

Part II Section 11 specifies the colour of lights which may / may not be shown on a range of vehicles.

To the front showing a red light is a total no-no except in certain closely defined situations.

To the rear nothing other than a red light should be visible again a list of specific exceptions e.g. indicators, reversing lights, long long list.

Part II para 13 specifies that no vehicle may show a flashing light again specific exceptions, eg direction indicators, warning beacons etc

Part II section 18 specifies the obligatory lamps and refers to the table in Schedule 1. This lists the obligatory lamps for various types of vehicles and refers to schedules 2 and onwards for the detailed installation and performance specifications. E.g schedule 4 refers to dipped headlamps and within this you will find sched 4 section 7 that the colour should be white or yellow.

Right, all clear so far?

All other lamps such as washer jets, under body neons etc come under the category of optional lamps and as such providing they

a) don't flash
AND
b) don't show red to the front
OR
c) don't show a colour other than red to the rear

then they are, in my opinion, sadly legal.

However to be quite honest I'm sure that an argument could be brought to cover reflected light other than red shown to the rear. Not aware of any case law as such, DVD?

FiF

edited to add the following from the what's a chav thread, made me laugh out loud I'm ashamed to say







>> Edited by Flat in Fifth on Wednesday 2nd June 21:21

[streaky]

WMHV70 said:

In short, if it's a blue light that doesn't flash, pulse, rotate or occultate, you should be all right.

Would that include those silly blue LED valve caps? (I do know which "rotate" you meant) - Streaky

[WMHV70]

Streaky - yes, it would include the dust caps, assuming they're fitted to the tyre valve. Only while the vehicle was moving, making the wheel rotate, mind.

[Pies]

I thought only the Queen could have a permanent forward facing blue light on her car and nobody else could

[Plotloss]

Pies said:

I thought only the Queen could have a permanent forward facing blue light on her car and nobody else could

That used to be the case, but sadly the law was changed for some reason and Max Chav and his army of under bridge dwellers jumped on the bandwagon resulting in the quite hideous scenario we have today...

[telecat]

I personally hate the Amber lights carried by HGV's on their sides. They look like indicators if you catch them at the side during a overtake.

[alans]

Just tell them it's fine, and dont worry about your sexuality it's a gay pride thing.

[WMHV70]

Unfortunately Telecat the amber lamps to which you refer are obligatory on LGVs (regulation 22 of the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989, section 42 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 and Schedule 2 to the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988).

[xxplod]

I was told by an experienced Trafpol colleague that the blue lights on wipers etc.. are illegal. This is on the basis that they do not match the main, i.e. white lights. Anyway, you've got to be a complete nob-head to have them. If I see them on a car that is doing something wrong, then I'm afraid it's decision made. Discretion waived on acccount of the driver's poor taste - (s)he will get a ticket for whatever I can find.

[WMHV70]

Blue lights etc are covered by Regulation 16 of the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989 provides for restrictions on fitting blue warning beacons, special warning lamps and similar devices to vehicles.
16 No vehicle, other than an emergency vehicle, shall be fitted with:

(a) a blue warning beacon or special warning lamp, or
(b) a device which resembles a blue warning beacon or a special warning lamp, whether the same is in working order or not.

I could go into pages about what constitutes an emergency vehicle, a warning beacon or special warning lamp if you like...

There is also information available about the washer jets etc, but the link I have is broken at the moment.

[Flat in Fifth]

www.thamesvalley.police.uk/faq/default.asp?Action=Q&ID=477

more or less what WMHV70 and I have already said earlier on this thread and elsewhere.

BTW really upsets them when you say its a gay pride signal!

If you really want to know chapter and verse visit >>

www.legislation.hmso.gov.uk/si/si1989/Uksi_19891796_en_1.htm

where you will find Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations 1989 a model of legislative clarity.......NOT!

FiF

edited cos I can't spell WMHV70 DOH!

>> Edited by Flat in Fifth on Thursday 3rd June 21:35

[WMHV70]

Fif, maybe I'll get Ted to change my profile name to something a little more catchy and typeable/pronounceable... any suggestions...?!

[streaky]

WMHV70 said:

Fif, maybe I'll get Ted to change my profile name to something a little more catchy and typeable/pronounceable... any suggestions...?!

"Dibble"?

[WMHV70]

streaky old bean - request has been made to his right royal Tedness:

www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?t=103668&f=23&h=0