READ THIS: Stopped by Police/VOSA.
12 January 2011, 12:05 PM
#1
READ THIS: Stopped by Police/VOSA.
Just been into town for a plumbing fitting and got waved into a full vehicle inspection by VOSA and Humberside Police. 
They went over the car with a fine tooth comb, and the following may be of interest to other Scoob owners:
1. My car has had a new short engine, so my engine number didn't match. Apparently you are supposed to inform DVLC. It's an offence not to, but I got an advisory. Today was about advice, rather than enforcement, he said.
2. The officer noted that my front sidelights had a pair of ordinary bulbs in the Morettes and a pair of blue tint bulbs in the normal sidelights. The blue tint bulbs were flagged as illegal, it is illegal to show blue lights on any vehicle except one of the emergency services. Another advisory to change them.
3. My front smoked indicators were also flagged as being too dim, and not e-marked. Another advisory
4. The officer then asked me what bulbs were in my headlights as they aren't standard colour. I replied that they were uprated 90%. He mentioned that they are now on the lookout for people with aftermarket HID kits fitted. Anyone found to have a kit fitted will be required to remove it or face prosecution:(
5. Finally, I was asked what my insurers made of my mods and were they all declared? We spoke about this for a while and he was satisfied, but if he hadn't been, he said he could telephone my insurers and ask if mods are declarted and which ones. If modifications are not declared, the vehicle IS NOT INSURED. It can then be seized.
6. They DIDN'T check emisions, for which I was heartily glad.
PLEASE TAKE NOTE OF THE ABOVE. IT COULD SAVE YOU SOME GRIEF, OR SOME CASH.
They went over the car with a fine tooth comb, and the following may be of interest to other Scoob owners:
1. My car has had a new short engine, so my engine number didn't match. Apparently you are supposed to inform DVLC. It's an offence not to, but I got an advisory. Today was about advice, rather than enforcement, he said.
2. The officer noted that my front sidelights had a pair of ordinary bulbs in the Morettes and a pair of blue tint bulbs in the normal sidelights. The blue tint bulbs were flagged as illegal, it is illegal to show blue lights on any vehicle except one of the emergency services. Another advisory to change them.
3. My front smoked indicators were also flagged as being too dim, and not e-marked. Another advisory
4. The officer then asked me what bulbs were in my headlights as they aren't standard colour. I replied that they were uprated 90%. He mentioned that they are now on the lookout for people with aftermarket HID kits fitted. Anyone found to have a kit fitted will be required to remove it or face prosecution:(
5. Finally, I was asked what my insurers made of my mods and were they all declared? We spoke about this for a while and he was satisfied, but if he hadn't been, he said he could telephone my insurers and ask if mods are declarted and which ones. If modifications are not declared, the vehicle IS NOT INSURED. It can then be seized.
6. They DIDN'T check emisions, for which I was heartily glad.
PLEASE TAKE NOTE OF THE ABOVE. IT COULD SAVE YOU SOME GRIEF, OR SOME CASH.
12 January 2011, 12:14 PM
#3
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Thanks for the heads-up fella
I was torn between getting some HID's or a good set of replacement bulbs - think that's just tipped the scale for the latter....
James
I was torn between getting some HID's or a good set of replacement bulbs - think that's just tipped the scale for the latter....
James
12 January 2011, 12:19 PM
#4
I think its a police myth to try and frighten drivers into not upgrading their lights. The amount of cars I see with hid lights must be 30% of the driving public, whether factory or retrofitted. It is too much of a task to stop a large minority, better to start a myth. There will always be someone being stopped for dodgy lights, wheels, spoilers etc
There are so many new cars now where you can choose to have hid as an upgrade by the manufacturer, the police will not be able to tell what is aftermarket or factory fit.
There are so many new cars now where you can choose to have hid as an upgrade by the manufacturer, the police will not be able to tell what is aftermarket or factory fit.
12 January 2011, 12:27 PM
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Very true and I agree with what you're saying, although I think it would be quite easy to deduce that HID's on any classic shape impreza are aftermarket additions given their age.
12 January 2011, 12:29 PM
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I think its a police myth to try and frighten drivers into not upgrading their lights. The amount of cars I see with hid lights must be 30% of the driving public, whether factory or retrofitted. It is too much of a task to stop a large minority, better to start a myth. There will always be someone being stopped for dodgy lights, wheels, spoilers etc
There are so many new cars now where you can choose to have hid as an upgrade by the manufacturer, the police will not be able to tell what is aftermarket or factory fit.
There are so many new cars now where you can choose to have hid as an upgrade by the manufacturer, the police will not be able to tell what is aftermarket or factory fit.
12 January 2011, 12:42 PM
#7
I think its a police myth to try and frighten drivers into not upgrading their lights. The amount of cars I see with hid lights must be 30% of the driving public, whether factory or retrofitted. It is too much of a task to stop a large minority, better to start a myth. There will always be someone being stopped for dodgy lights, wheels, spoilers etc
There are so many new cars now where you can choose to have hid as an upgrade by the manufacturer, the police will not be able to tell what is aftermarket or factory fit.
There are so many new cars now where you can choose to have hid as an upgrade by the manufacturer, the police will not be able to tell what is aftermarket or factory fit.
As for aftermarket HID etc, all he has to do is check the E number. That will tell him what sort of bulb the light unit was made for.
Ignore it if you want, but these blokes were keen, believe me.
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12 January 2011, 12:54 PM
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Hids are either factory fitted and for cars in the UK, have washers fitted, aftermarket hids without said washers will probably be done, you just have to read the vosa site to find that out
All this is basically pointing out is that there are lots of aftermarket parts that dont come upto the "e" standard and as such "may" cause issues to other road users.
This is what vosa do.
Tony
All this is basically pointing out is that there are lots of aftermarket parts that dont come upto the "e" standard and as such "may" cause issues to other road users.
This is what vosa do.
Tony
12 January 2011, 12:59 PM
#12
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Well, nothing new in the original post ... showing blue lights to the front has always been illegal - why would anyone want to do it anyway? Very Chavvie.
HID lights are a menace - they dazzle and I would like to see them outlawed completely.
Declaring mods. - well yes, you are not insured if you haven't and the car will be siezed - good thing too I say .... I don't want an un-insured car hitting me!
Smoked indicators, again chavvie wannabbee item and therefore should be banned, if only because of extreme bad taste!
I would like to see roadside emission testing on every street - let's make sure we save the planet for future generations .... not pander to the chavs of today!
HID lights are a menace - they dazzle and I would like to see them outlawed completely.
Declaring mods. - well yes, you are not insured if you haven't and the car will be siezed - good thing too I say .... I don't want an un-insured car hitting me!
Smoked indicators, again chavvie wannabbee item and therefore should be banned, if only because of extreme bad taste!
I would like to see roadside emission testing on every street - let's make sure we save the planet for future generations .... not pander to the chavs of today!
12 January 2011, 01:23 PM
#14
The factory HID's are also self levelling , all mine have been as they move up and down to set themselves everytime you switch them on , you can see other cars with them fitted from the factory , you notice they have bright lights , but I don't find they dazzle you , unlike just about every car that has aftermarket kits fitted , you can tell straight away
Last edited by Godspeed Brakes; 12 January 2011 at 01:24 PM.
12 January 2011, 01:26 PM
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They would save more lives / money if they spent as much time fixing the f*****g potholes in the roads. People swerving to avoid smashing their suspension in a huge hole is far more dangerous than a different set of headlights. Oh wait a minute, you can't fine a pothole though.....
12 January 2011, 01:32 PM
#18
what about jdm cars nothing on the car will be e-marked as it never needed to be for the japanese market, also HID's are factory fitted but no washers and levelers are installed. Surely they need to make allowances.
12 January 2011, 01:36 PM
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So when you buy a secondhand car how are you supposed to know what is OEM and what is aftermarket? Not everyone is an expert in E marks, nor do we see tens of cars everyday that we can see by comparison if something looks dodgy.
IMO the pendulum has swung a bit too far to penalising to the letter of a law, rather than if it looks right / wrong then it probably is.
Advisories seems a sensible approach.
IMO the pendulum has swung a bit too far to penalising to the letter of a law, rather than if it looks right / wrong then it probably is.
Advisories seems a sensible approach.
12 January 2011, 02:10 PM
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12 January 2011, 02:15 PM
#25
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They're only going to the far end of a fart imho because they have set up an "operation" and need to show results. Would plod on patrol normally bother you with any of the aforementioned "defects", probably not, unless it was a danger/nuisance to other road users. Everything is measured by stats & taking in loads of PI's (read paperwork/advisories) will keep his/her sergeant well happy.
Just my view on it anyway.
Just my view on it anyway.
12 January 2011, 02:28 PM
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Well, nothing new in the original post ... showing blue lights to the front has always been illegal - why would anyone want to do it anyway? Very Chavvie.
HID lights are a menace - they dazzle and I would like to see them outlawed completely.
Declaring mods. - well yes, you are not insured if you haven't and the car will be siezed - good thing too I say .... I don't want an un-insured car hitting me!
Smoked indicators, again chavvie wannabbee item and therefore should be banned, if only because of extreme bad taste!
I would like to see roadside emission testing on every street - let's make sure we save the planet for future generations .... not pander to the chavs of today!
HID lights are a menace - they dazzle and I would like to see them outlawed completely.
Declaring mods. - well yes, you are not insured if you haven't and the car will be siezed - good thing too I say .... I don't want an un-insured car hitting me!
Smoked indicators, again chavvie wannabbee item and therefore should be banned, if only because of extreme bad taste!
I would like to see roadside emission testing on every street - let's make sure we save the planet for future generations .... not pander to the chavs of today!
Not sure about the 'saving the planet' bit but I don't disagree with the rest.
12 January 2011, 02:32 PM
#27
Glad i've only got a HID kit, rather than full retro-fit i was thinking about then! at least i can just swap over to the halogens that i carry in the glove box!
& as above, how is this going to work with JDM's ...the only things 'E' Marked are the things i've put on it!?!
& as above, how is this going to work with JDM's ...the only things 'E' Marked are the things i've put on it!?!
12 January 2011, 02:33 PM
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Well, nothing new in the original post ... showing blue lights to the front has always been illegal - why would anyone want to do it anyway? Very Chavvie.
HID lights are a menace - they dazzle and I would like to see them outlawed completely.
Declaring mods. - well yes, you are not insured if you haven't and the car will be siezed - good thing too I say .... I don't want an un-insured car hitting me!
Smoked indicators, again chavvie wannabbee item and therefore should be banned, if only because of extreme bad taste!
I would like to see roadside emission testing on every street - let's make sure we save the planet for future generations .... not pander to the chavs of today!
HID lights are a menace - they dazzle and I would like to see them outlawed completely.
Declaring mods. - well yes, you are not insured if you haven't and the car will be siezed - good thing too I say .... I don't want an un-insured car hitting me!
Smoked indicators, again chavvie wannabbee item and therefore should be banned, if only because of extreme bad taste!
I would like to see roadside emission testing on every street - let's make sure we save the planet for future generations .... not pander to the chavs of today!
