Madcop little blue fairy lights in cars, illegal?
Discussion
Question for madcop
There seems to be a lot of dare I say it “boy racers” with little blue fair lights on the front of their cars. They seem to be in the washer jets of some car and are brilliant blue.
Now, these things are a bloody pest, not only do they look stupid, but they dazzle people coming the other way if you are unfortunate to be in a low car, the light is just a eyesight level…
I seem to recall that if you displayed red or blue lights in your car this was illegal. Some time ago, in the papers, now were talking 6-7 years ago someone even got nicked for having blue and red lights on his tiny Xmas tree in his cab.
Anyway, they’re a bloody nuisance. I can understand if they are to stop glare on you window screen. I even saw a car the other night with green ones in place of the screws that held the rear number plate on, and the lights were so bright you couldn’t read the number plate.
Don’t want to sound like an old fart, (only 32) but this is bordering on the ridiculous and it becoming a real distraction when driving, and I think they are a real hazzard.
Cheer, rant over now!
There seems to be a lot of dare I say it “boy racers” with little blue fair lights on the front of their cars. They seem to be in the washer jets of some car and are brilliant blue.
Now, these things are a bloody pest, not only do they look stupid, but they dazzle people coming the other way if you are unfortunate to be in a low car, the light is just a eyesight level…
I seem to recall that if you displayed red or blue lights in your car this was illegal. Some time ago, in the papers, now were talking 6-7 years ago someone even got nicked for having blue and red lights on his tiny Xmas tree in his cab.
Anyway, they’re a bloody nuisance. I can understand if they are to stop glare on you window screen. I even saw a car the other night with green ones in place of the screws that held the rear number plate on, and the lights were so bright you couldn’t read the number plate.
Don’t want to sound like an old fart, (only 32) but this is bordering on the ridiculous and it becoming a real distraction when driving, and I think they are a real hazzard.
Cheer, rant over now!
Unfortunately today's younger drivers appear to put their image well before any trivial matters such as the law and consideration for other drivers. If it looks "cool" in their mind, they do it. Pretty pathetic really and I wish the police would clamp down on it a lot harder. Don't get me started on fog lamps..
There was a recent long discussion on this in the uktrafficlaw forum on Yahoo Groups (which also has its own resident TOs). Essentially they are not illegal.
They're even appearing on the continent now. I was in Germany last week, near Freiburg, and I lost count of the number of continental trucks sporting these annoying little lights.
They're even appearing on the continent now. I was in Germany last week, near Freiburg, and I lost count of the number of continental trucks sporting these annoying little lights.
Didnt Madcop say on another thread that the only person allowed to display a forward facing permanently on blue light was Madge?
The law/fire/medics are allowed to have flashing blue lights obviously but I am sure I remember him mentioning that static blue lights were a wholly regal preserve.
Matt.
The law/fire/medics are allowed to have flashing blue lights obviously but I am sure I remember him mentioning that static blue lights were a wholly regal preserve.
Matt.
They are illigal.
www.passionmotorsport.co.uk/NEW-neon1.htm
you wil notice that '* Not Legal for Road Use' as a disclamer.
www.passionmotorsport.co.uk/NEW-neon1.htm
you wil notice that '* Not Legal for Road Use' as a disclamer.
Plotless, you are right. The only person who can legally show a static blue light to the front is the Queen.
All her official cars have a single blue light fitted into the bodywork of the car above the central rear view mirror. Her new rolls has the lamp sited underneath her 'Coat of Arms'
All her official cars have a single blue light fitted into the bodywork of the car above the central rear view mirror. Her new rolls has the lamp sited underneath her 'Coat of Arms'
SpudGunner said: So does that mean thatpolicy will be to stop these people Madcop?
dont mind them myself but then I quite like the look of foglights on at the front as well anyway
They are stopped and dealt with. The same as people that have the festive spirit and place a mini Christmas tree in the windscreen on the dash board and decorate it with multi coloured lights.
Red lights must only be shown to the rear. Except in the one case of a fire service emergency control vehicle at an incident.
This will confuse you! A friend was stopped for having permanently lit up blue LEDs. He was stopped by the police and told they were illegal on the road so had to have a switch fitted to them given that they are illegal on the road but not in carparks etc. Given a set amount of time to fix it and provide proof at a police statin. Once fixed, he went into the police station only to be told by a different officer that the swith was illegal too because it was then possible to simulate flashing blue lights by flicking the switch on and off. Net result is that local police admit they are unsure of the actual law regarding this and the switch has been allowed to remain. Note that these are just 'ordinary' police officers because thee is not a local traffic division. I've got a feeling that this saga will just continue.
The trouble is whilst places like Halfords and Les Smiths sell them, the man on the street is not really gonna know that they are illegal.
(yeh I know ure gonna tell me that they prob have a warning on the packet or summat, but the shops know damn well that people will just ignore that anyway)
(yeh I know ure gonna tell me that they prob have a warning on the packet or summat, but the shops know damn well that people will just ignore that anyway)
Nope. The only "light" things that have a chance of working is a synchronised flashgun or an accurately aimed laser. Even with these your mileage will vary...
Chrisgr31 said: I followed a car down the M1 today which had two blue LED lights set into the rear numberplate. I wonder if they fool the cameras?
Chris
I can't imagine that this urban legend will last long, as all the numpties will get Gatsoed sooner or later despite their blue lights.
A high energy microwave beam would also work. So would an EM Pulse. Sadly, these tend to be in the hands of the military.
>> Edited by CraigAlsop on Thursday 13th February 00:31
When wondering about things that would fool a camera the simple answer is to take a normal camera, stand above and behind the car and take a picture.
See what comes back.
If you don't get a visible reg plate then check the negatives, if it's still missing you might be onto something.
See what comes back.
If you don't get a visible reg plate then check the negatives, if it's still missing you might be onto something.
nubbin said: Us medics are allowed a green flashing light - but the blood transfusion boys also use blue flashing lights. Probably coastguard, too, anyone else madcop? (I love trivia like this!!)
nubbin - The MOD police can use blue, Mountin Rescue, Forrestry Commission and doctors (GPs tend to use green but some rural places provide their doctors with the correct vehicle). The RNLI can use blue also.
Thats all I can think of at the moment...
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