Police Car Antenna help

[simonfoy]

Hi guys

I wanted to ask one more question. If I put 4 reflectors on the car would that be permissible within the law? These are NOT lights they just reflect like the brake lights etc do. There is no wiring in them and would be invisible at night. He wants 2 in the front grill and 2 on the back window......don't ask

They are these ones

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/302037970145? ... EBIDX%3AIT

Last question......promise. Thanks again

[m0lsx]

It is all rather murky, as it depends upon the attitude of the individual Police Officer.
I know someone who brought an ex Police motorcycle at auction & about a month later was stopped & charged with impersonating a Police officer as it was an ex Police bike, with a white fairing that still had orange reflective tape on it.
Fortunately in that case a fellow motor cycle club member was a solicitor & when the Police realised that their definition was going to be challenged,they suddenly dropped the case. Something they would not do when the victim of their stupidity was the one challenging it. When it was just a motor cyclist, it was we will let the courts decide. When it was a solicitor & a claim of a malicious prosecution, it was "having reviewed...."
Local to me a company who provides private fire cover at events was charged with using a vehicle fitted with blue lights, (that were not covered,) as he went shopping. Yet the Police, fire & ambulance service do it. Also people such as St John Ambulance use their vehicles on non emergency contracts, runs etc with the blue lights uncovered. I have also moved emergency vehicles around that were fitted with blue lights uncovered & never had an issue.
As I understand the law it is "BLUE LIGHTS" that are the issue, not reflectors. But even if I am right, it does not mean some idiot Police officer would not try to get his/her own way, or that they would not be backed all the way to court, unless you spend money on a solicitor.
I think it was here, where someone said they reported a burglary & when the Police arrived they were only interested in the ex police radio they owned. These radios are sold at auction & perfectly legal to own & even use, if you have a licence & use it legally. But the idiot Police officer saw an easier case to solve & confiscated the radio, something he had no good cause to do, as the confiscate it, he needed to have good reason to suspect it would be used illegally. Which he did not even seek to find out.
What is or is not legal & how the Police respond are at times two very different things.

[maylandmanta]

Be careful putting things like lights and reflectors on a vehicle - there are lots of odd rules & reg's relating to the heights,spacing and what you can place where on a vehicle.As an example,I do a lot of towing with a 6m boat on the back and have recently found out that I am as much in the wrong for having to many reflective stripes & reflectors on the rear of the trailer as I would be for having none as there are different rules depending on length of trailer etc.It may be worth contacting your local Traffic Police unit for advice on where you stand.Mind you when I did that reguarding the max length of trailer I could legally tow they hand'nt a got clue.

[Giblets]

Might be worth checking the Vehicle Lighting Regulations for information on the legality of blue retro reflective materials and reflectors for use on vehicles other than official emergency vehicles.

[m0lsx]

Thanks to my friend google..

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1989/1796/regulation/11/made

Colour of light shown by lamps and reflectors

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.

Also..

No vehicle shall be fitted with a lamp which is capable of showing any light to the rear, other than a red light, except–
(k)blue light from a warning beacon or rear special warning lamp fitted to an emergency vehicle, or from any device fitted to a vehicle used for police purposes;

[milly]

This really is outside the remit of the bulletin board but if you or your son intend to put the blue reflectors on a vehicle and use it on the public highway then be prepared for a court appearance.