bargain lights at crc

Catfish

I've just ordered three of these from crc ready for the winter commute. bargin price.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=13688

more visable than any red flasher and as long as you don't fit them on your bike (fit them on your helmet or bag or jacket) you won't be breaking the law, the road traffic act only applies to lights fixed to the bike.

prj45

hmm, I think having a flashing blue anywhere on your person whilst out on the road could be interpreted as impersonating a police officer.

Highly NOT recommended.

fossyant

Discontinued anyway...........you must have bought the only one.

prj45

I can see catfish now standing in the rain trying to explain to the pi55ed off policeman why he's showing a blue light...

Catfish

like i said as long as it's not attached to your bike then it's not covered by the road traffic act cycle lights, and any cop who knows his job will know that, so i don't see me standing round in the rain for very long, besides which the local cops don't seem to bother about all the spotty oinks driving round in corsas and saxos with blue led lights on the washer jets and side lights.
I think i'll take the risk better be seen than hear "sorry mate i didn't see you" and it's a fact that motorist will notice a blue light in the distance more than a red one plus i'm only putting one on the back of my ruck sack and one on the back of my helmet.

prj45

Good luck, but I wouldn't risk it myself.

If a policeman ask you to turn them off are you going to say no?

sebastiandangerfield

This is exectly where peoples' views of the law get jaded.

besides which the local cops don't seem to bother about all the spotty oinks driving round in corsas and saxos with blue led lights on the washer jets and side lights.

Just because you see others doing it doesn't make it legal all of a sudden. You may see someone getting robbed one day and god forbid there may not be a Policeman there at the time to arrest him, it doesn't mean you can start robbing people though, it's still illegal.

However, the only law i'm aware of is part of the road traffic act that specifically forbids the displaying of a blue flashing light to the front of a motor vehicle. This, obviously, doesn't apply to you as you're not a motor vehicle. It also deosn't spply to just wearing a light on your person as opposed to the bike.

Also, assuming a cop who knows his job would be aware of the tiny little never used bits of traffic law that you refer to is a dangerous assumption! We use a room full of legal books every day, no one person could ever know all of it and Police officers will often bring people in for a similar offence before researching the exact offence charged.

I'd be interested to know where the other bits of law regarding impersonating a bobby come from? It's not really the side of things i've ever dealt with.

always_tyred

Catfish wrote:

the road traffic act only applies to lights fixed to the bike.

This is correct.

UndercoverElephant

And it would look cool as you bomb along with it flashing. Especially if you shout, "Nee Naw! Nee Naw!", as you go.

CanalRider

http://www.ukemergency.co.uk/information/bluelightuse.htm#Blue_Light_Exemptions this may provide some guidance.

The blue lights attached to windscreen washers are not flashing, therefore, legal. Pity!

sebastiandangerfield

I dont think that part of the law was what was unclear. It's already been stated that if on a motor vehicle and flashing then they are illegal. It's the part about whats allowed on a push bike i.e not a motor vehicle and nothing to do with thr road traffic act thats the unclear part.

BTW although it's not covered on the page you pasted in, solid blue lights are not illegal in the terms you posted (RTA exemptions for emergency services) but are against construction and use law. I doubt anyone would be convicted of it though!

It's still unclear what the lighting regulations are for push bikes though.

spen666

Catfish wrote:

like i said as long as it's not attached to your bike then it's not covered by the road traffic act cycle lights, and any cop who knows his job will know that, so i don't see me standing round in the rain for very long, besides which the local cops don't seem to bother about all the spotty oinks driving round in corsas and saxos with blue led lights on the washer jets and side lights.
I think i'll take the risk better be seen than hear "sorry mate i didn't see you" and it's a fact that motorist will notice a blue light in the distance more than a red one plus i'm only putting one on the back of my ruck sack and one on the back of my helmet.

There is other legislation than the RTA

Mithras

Section 90 Police Act 1996

(1) Any person who with intent to deceive impersonates a member of a police force or special constable, or makes any statement or does any act calculated falsely to suggest that he is such a member or constable, shall be guilty of an offence


So By attaching blue lights, to your person or your bike which may make make a member of the public believe that you may be a police officer is an offence!

Stay away from blue lights!

spen666

Mithras wrote:

Section 90 Police Act 1996

(1) Any person who with intent to deceive impersonates a member of a police force or special constable, or makes any statement or does any act calculated falsely to suggest that he is such a member or constable, shall be guilty of an offence


So By attaching blue lights, to your person or your bike which may make make a member of the public believe that you may be a police officer is an offence!

Stay away from blue lights!

I'd be interested to know if there have been any convictions of cyclists for this offence by way of simjply having a blue light or lights on.

I'm curious to know if courts have found necessary intent

BTW I personally think using the blue lights should be made illegal except for emergency services

Avoneer

In 11 years working at Mags Court, I've yet to see a cyclist come through the doors.

I'm still trying to trigger my local speed camera on the way too and from work, but so far to no avail.

The only "real" cycling offence I can find in my guidelines as well is "furious cycling" which I guess could cover everything (apart from blue lights)!

Pat...

spen666

Avoneer wrote:

In 11 years working at Mags Court, I've yet to see a cyclist come through the doors.

That's because of the bollards etc outside the doors and do you know how hard it is to ride through a revolving door?

I'm still trying to trigger my local speed camera on the way too and from work, but so far to no avail.

The only "real" cycling offence I can find in my guidelines as well is "furious cycling" which I guess could cover everything (apart from blue lights)!

Pat...

Furious cycling?

Do you mean the S35 OAP offence?

Agent57

CanalRider wrote:

http://www.ukemergency.co.uk/information/bluelightuse.htm#Blue_Light_Exemptions this may provide some guidance.

The blue lights attached to windscreen washers are not flashing, therefore, legal. Pity!

I don't get that interpretation. The page you linked states:

You can only have a steady white light to the front and a steady red light showing to the rear of your vehicle. The exceptions to this are:

BLUE

flashing from an emergency vehicle
flashing or constant from a police vehicle

I interpret that as meaning only emergency vehicles may show flashing blue lights; and additionally, only police vehicles may show a constant blue light. The latter would include LEDs on windscreen washers, as they're visible from the front of the car, surely?

UndercoverElephant

Agent57 wrote:

I interpret that as meaning only emergency vehicles may show flashing blue lights; and additionally, only police vehicles may show a constant blue light. The latter would include LEDs on windscreen washers, as they're visible from the front of the car, surely?

You are absolutely correct, completely illegal. As are coloured LED side lights, and number plates with stupid fonts and incorrect spacing.

The numbers of which I see would indicate that the Police aren't really that bothered, and would have to be pretty bored (or not like the look of you) before the bust you.