Police Lights on non police cars....

[phool222]

Hi there guys

Hope everyone's well. I'll keep this short and sweet.

I am looking to hire a supercar out for a friends wedding later on this year and whilst surfing the web saw a company and decided to visit them.

Their array of cars was astounding but stumbled upon an armoured Range Rover that was for hire. Not too surprising I understand, until the guy showing me around turned on the police lights on the vehicle which made it look like an unmarked police car!

I was actually quite surprised at this, it did not have any POLICE signs anywhere on the car but the lights were all blue (unlike the american blue/red) and it did look like some kind of diplomatic vehicle or vehicle of authority. I asked the guy if this was legal and he said of course as it would be used for close protection arrangements.

My question is, is this illegal? I don't think so at all but this company is very legitimate therefore they must just be mistaken.... No?

Regards

Phool

[Bungleaio]

Impersonating a police vehicle is most definitely illegal.

[StottyZr]

IIRC its legal to have the lights, no legal to turn them on, on the road.

[joebongo]

A lot of covert lights are for BASICS docs/nurses, ambo or fire.

[Celtic Dragon]

Blue or red lights yes, very naughty, green is another no no as thats for medical use (non 999). Not illegal to have white or orange lights though.

[vonhosen]

StottyZr said:

IIRC its legal to have the lights, no legal to turn them on, on the road.

Illegal for flashing blue lights to be fitted.

Reg 16 RVLR 1989

[phool222]

I thought so! Silly sods will be getting themselves into trouble no doubt and then blame it on the plank whose driving it who decides to have a play around I think.

[carreauchompeur]

Interesting... Delusions of grandeur I think on the part of potential hirers. If any pillocks start giving it the big spuds in the name of 'VIP protection' I'd expect them to have a bit of a talking to... Of course 'migalki' are quite popular in Russia...

[veevee]

joebongo said:

A lot of covert lights are for BASICS docs/nurses, ambo or fire.

Why would they need covert lights?

[Perd Hapley]

veevee said:

Why would they need covert lights?

So everyone doesn't slow down to 69.9mph when they see them on the motorway.

[Danesgate]

veevee said:

joebongo said:

A lot of covert lights are for BASICS docs/nurses, ambo or fire.

Why would they need covert lights?

And because HMRC have a rule about non-payment of BIK tax where a private vehicle is classed as an Emergency Service vehicle (for example Fire Officer on-call).

Most folks wouldn't choose to draw attention to their private vehicle by having overt blues, so have them fitted covertly as the HMRC requires that they be a permanent fixture (except in NI).

[Riley Blue]

High ranking officers in the forces have (or used to have) unmarked armoured Jaguars with discrete blue lights.

[xRIEx]

Celtic Dragon said:

Blue or red lights yes, very naughty, green is another no no as thats for medical use (non 999). Not illegal to have white or orange lights though.

I thought white lights cannot be visible from the rear of the vehicle, except whilst reversing?

The bit right at the bottom of this page is what I'm thinking of.

Edited by xRIEx on Friday 29th June 08:00