neon lights

[mickq]

In Victoria they are currently LEGAL not illegal.

Despite what many people think, in Victoria they are allowed to be used whilst driving.

In 1999 the law was changed. Prior to then you were only allowed to have them on whilst the car was parked. (I do not specifically remember if that meant stationary, or properly parked).

However in 1999 the laws related to non-mandatory lighting were changed. They were made legal, as long as they do not flash or rotate. If they flash or rotate and are not an exempt vehicle, they are illegal.

The same applies to those lit windscreen water sprayers that people put on their cars.

There have been grumbles from Vic police about this as some people turned on blue and red lights and used it to move faster through traffic, and there were rumours that they are looking at banning all kinds of non mandatory lighting whilst a vehicle is moving - if not in all circumstances.

The only flashing lights allowed are indicators and headlights on motorbikes. For motorbike headlights flasher units (modulators) may be fitted so long as the flash rate is (from memory)  >4 times per second or 240 times per minute. (Compare that to indicators which must be from 45-120 times per minute)

Well said.

There is a link about non factory lights on the Victoria Police intranet, if there are any other Victorian (police, not forum!) members reading. It is, for some reason, a very passionate subject.

Its pretty basic really (at first). There are certain other factors to consider when it comes to additional lights, so to keep it basic like I said, only talking about the coloured accessory lights, not driving lights on fog lights (they must still comply, but there are further considerations).

The light must not be dazzling. This is in the officer's opinion. If he was dazzled by it, then, sorry Sunshine, its dazzling. You don't agree, off to court. That's what its there for and that's why magistrates earn as much as a third world country. If the magistrate tells the policeman he wasn't dazzled, then he wasn't.

You can not have red lights facing forward, full stop. None. Regardless of anything else, dazzling or not, no red forwards.

As above for white facing backwards. I am not a traffic policeman, and frankly, its not a big interest of mine, if it was, I'd go for a job in the TMU. So I am 99% sure, not 100%. No white backwards also covers the accessory reversing lights people add to their 4WDs. If someone knows for a FACT I am wrong about those particular lights, please post away.

This post refers to Vic, but all states should be similar without being exactly the same.

If I were arguing about dazzling, the one argument likely to win is that unless you are driving on a mirror, it is near impossible for lights not directly aimed at you to dazzle you. Or at a minimum, lights you can not directly see can not dazzle you. (Hiroshima residents may disagree).

A neon light reflecting on the ground then towards a 3rd person couldnt dazzle them.

Red and white lights may be visible from the "wrong" ends on emergency vehicles, but importantly also on normal vehicles if they are reversing lights or "internal lamps" inside the vehicle.

But as if that wasnt accurate enough, strictly speaking you may mount an external non-reversing white light on your non-emergency vehicle, so long as that light is >2.2m above the ground.

You can also, on your now very strange looking car, mount an exteriour light outside the front of the vehicle as long as it is over 1m above ground level.

However to avoid having your car needing two large antennae on it with lights mounted on top so you can drive it safely backwards and forwards at speed, Id recommend placing large lights of the wrong colour on your dash and rear shelf, and sticking a label on each reading "Internal Lamp". (Perhaps add a second sticker saying "Dazzle Free" too...).

[xrdreaming]

Oh what can I say, I am a Fooly sick tool wif my hip neons and 900wrms of earth shaking doof doof.

I can never have enough "bling bling" if only these things had more cheesy chrome on them :lol:

Smile everyone it's only a car and each to their own, you only get one shot at this life (Unless you a Buddist) so if it makes you happy, do it.

[BA_Turbs]

Oh what can I say, I am a Fooly sick tool wif my hip neons and 900wrms of earth shaking doof doof.

I can never have enough "bling bling" if only these things had more cheesy chrome on them :lol:

Smile everyone it's only a car and each to their own, you only get one shot at this life (Unless you a Buddist) so if it makes you happy, do it.

Very funny (esp the buddhist remark!) :lol:

[ZAP]

I am sure a fuully sik car with neons underneath could dazzle a cop if it was a raining night, as the reflection off the wet road could cause him enough annoyance to book you.....then again he would book you just for having neons as I am yet to hear a cops say a nice word about them.

[mook05]

I have seen these Neon things all over the shelves at Autobarn and JB Hifi, they must be popular given the amount of shelf space the get!

I did notice though that most of them had warning stickers on the packs "do not fit to cars equipped with ABS Brakes"

Any idea why??

I'd never put them under the car, but I have though that some small ones under the seats to illuminate the footwells front and rear would be cool......

Cheers,

Michael...

[SR-71 Blackbird]

In QLD they are not illegal, how ever they do attract the boys like bugs to a zapper. If you want this attention then go right ahead.

You must be mindful of Section 5 of the guidelines.

You must also not have red or blue as those colours are reserved for emergency services

I disagree as people in QLD have been booked for Neons under the vehicle.

[Guest scotty]

even states that say they are legal in the rules still book people as it is written in the guidelines that it is up to the individual police officer as to weather the lights are too bright and do dazzle other drivers or not

[BA_Turbs]

even states that say they are legal in the rules still book people as it is written in the guidelines that it is up to the individual police officer as to weather the lights are too bright and do dazzle other drivers or not

That's the point I was trying to make. Having them fitted may not be illeagel, using them might be.

That special phrase again:

"In the officer's opinion...."

[Blown BA]

Oh what can I say, I am a Fooly sick tool wif my hip neons and 900wrms of earth shaking doof doof.

I can never have enough "bling bling" if only these things had more cheesy chrome on them :lol:

Smile everyone it's only a car and each to their own, you only get one shot at this life (Unless you a Buddist) so if it makes you happy, do it.

:lol: Hey Dean that sound shik maaate ...love ya work buddy like you said if you like it do it :loc: ...l'm with you