My Encounter with the Constabulary

[wkid_one]

Well an interesting day today.

Being bored, I decided to continue my car hunting - so off I went.

Finding the appropriate vehicle for my plans (Evo 5), I decided to take it for a spin and working in the finance game, even managed to do so without the normally compulsory handbrake that is the Dealer.

What fun.....until I got pulled by Mr and Mrs Plod for no apparent reason.

Given it was raining, I made absolutely no attempt to get out of my car, and only wound the window down a fraction (as you do).

He then proceeded to lecture me as to the merits of the present road code about the 'number of forward facing headlights'. WHich was incredibly nice of him. Telling me I was only allowed 4..yet the 5 has two big stinking possum startlers making 6. Of which I had the mains and spots on.

After his rambling on and starting to write a ticket (whilst I listen calmly) - I decided to correct this poors mans errors


The lights were approved by the LTSA only 2 weeks prior to my taking the car for a drive.
They are factory fitted headlights and spots.....and to top it off
You are allow 6 forward facing headlights, of which only 4 can be on at any one time
(luckily I have been pulled for this before in my old VR4)

Needless to say - he stood there arguing with me for a number of minutes - which was highly amusing...me in a heated car...him on the side of the road looking more and more like drowned rat.

The upshot....his partner checked and I was indeed correct. Now that was appropriate use of the tax payers dollar if I ever saw it. Not only did he waste his and my time.....he obviously wasted the instructors time who taught him the road code in Training College!

[spudchucka]

Regardless of what proffession you are in, you should always check the facts before opening your gob. Bet he felt like an arse.

[MD]

Well done. Mark up a small win for the motorist vs. Road Revenue Officers. The wars not over though, the sods issued about a million tickets last year. Why don't they just make it a fine to own/register/use or look at a motor vehicle and spare us all the pretence of "road safety"

[Motu]

Um....if what you say was correct - then he was correct.Spot lights(driving lights) are only aloud to be on with high beam,fog lamps can be used at will - so shall we say you were on dipped beam with the fog lamps on and he was wrong...or you were in an illeagally wired car?

[wkid_one]

Um....if what you say was correct - then he was correct.Spot lights(driving lights) are only aloud to be on with high beam,fog lamps can be used at will - so shall we say you were on dipped beam with the fog lamps on and he was wrong...or you were in an illeagally wired car?To be anal - All present vehicles are fitting with 'foglamps' from factory not spotlights to get around this 'rule'....I inadvertently call them spots....however the Evo 5 has factory fitted 'Driving Lamps'....

The ruling is actually - that the fog lights CAN be operated independantly of the headlamps

[Motu]

So then he was correct,you were either driving around in daytime with headlamps on high beam with driving lamps - or this vehicle has been VINned with illeagal lamps fitted,or atleast wired incorrectly for NZ rules.Sounds like he could of dragged you and the dealer off to the VIN station and made someone explain themselves.

[Andrew]

As I start reading this thread Wkid looks cool, but then not so cool.............

[wkid_one]

So then he was correct,you were either driving around in daytime with headlamps on high beam with driving lamps - or this vehicle has been VINned with illeagal lamps fitted,or atleast wired incorrectly for NZ rules.Sounds like he could of dragged you and the dealer off to the VIN station and made someone explain themselves. .....driving with lights on dip with foglights on....no different than my NZ assembled Mondeo....why on earth would I be driving with my lights on full beam during the day as another point?

Based on your assumption, you would struggle to see ANY car operating foglights in NZ.

Never said on Hi-Beam at any stage.

It is NOT ILLEGAL to drive with foglamps on provided even if they are wired to the main headlights and can be operated independently.

He was not correct in any way shape or form.

These are factory fitted headlamps and foglamps no different than any car I have driven before EVER.


I have already taken the Police to task over this once and WON in a court of law....believe me when I say I am right

[SPman]

The friggin things can still blind you though!

[wkid_one]

The friggin things can still blind you though!
I managed to find the PDF of the Document on all Lighting Matters pertaining to cars I used in court.....and have attached it.....

The upshot is:

You can be done on foglights if


only one or more than 2 are fitted
they are insecure or obscured
Missing lens or a hole in it allowing moisture in
Reflector damaged
Not white or amber
inequal output
Don't remain steadily illuminated
doesn't project the light in the same direction
is not permanently dipped
not permanently aligned in the dip position so that the centreline of the beam of each lamp projects parallel to the centre line of the vehicle or to the left of it and slopes down from the lamp at least 100mm at 3mfrom the horizontal

They may operate independant of the main lights - but must be permanently dipped. Driving lights

You are only allowed 4 headlights ON at one time.

[Motu]

Read what you wrote next time please - are you talking fog lamps or driving lamps..you seem to have the two confused.Fog lamps can be on at any time,with or without headlamps,dipped or high beam.Driving lamps can only be on on high beam.

So,this car was fitted with what????? fog lamps or driving lamps or both????? what was on when you were pulled over - driving lamps or fog lamps?

[bondagebunny]

do you drive your car/any car with lights on during the day.

Some bikers do it to be seen easier, some bikes are hard wired. But I have noticed while out on my bike that some cars drive lights on during the day.

you appear to be one of them - WHy

Serious question

[Motu]

Some cars are hard wired too - mainly Volvos,just park lights.To be seen,to be cool,dunno what they are thinking.Pisses me off though.

[Zed]

...After his rambling on and starting to write a ticket (whilst I listen calmly) - I decided to correct this poors mans errors...
What a momentous display of control on your part!! That was probably one of the main reasons why you got off the ticket...I dare say that if you had interrupted him and displayed a smart-elec attitude he would have still issued you the ticket anyway!?

It's always a great feeling to be let off an infringement. :laugh: I was let off two last year through eloquently written letters to Wellington (1 4 me & 1 4 my wife).


Zed

[BigB]

Our work has all our cars/utes lights wired to come on as soon as the car is started. The reason is that according to them your 15% less likely to be in an accident as you are more easily seen. (dosen't stop the bad drivers from have accidents though)

cheers

[Dave]

quote; Wkid
.....driving with lights on dip with foglights on....no different than my NZ assembled Mondeo....

Sorry, the nit pickers are out, but Ford dont assemble Mondeos in NZ. :argh:

[Motu]

damn,I missed that one! mind you if we asked the year it could be a Japanese assembled one.

[Wonko]

They are turned on for the same reason yours should be on on your bike, to increase visability of the vechicle.

[Lou Girardin]

The best part is that his partner is going to tell everone back at base just how much of a prat he looked. He won't live it down for months.
Lou

[wkid_one]

It's always a great feeling to be let off an infringement. :laugh: I was let off two last year through eloquently written letters to Wellington (1 4 me & 1 4 my wife).


Zed
The point is there is no infringement to be let off in the first place

[Zed]

The point is there is no infringement to be let off in the first place
You're always trying to prove someone wrong or find a mistake in someones post aren't you Cincinnati...especially mine :brick: How old are you again?

There WAS an infringement but because of the letter some pen-pusher decided to let me off!


Zed

[Goddess of Goof]

Our work has all our cars/utes lights wired to come on as soon as the car is started. The reason is that according to them your 15% less likely to be in an accident as you are more easily seen. cheers
I agree with lights on during the day if you're in a car - (bike is hard-wired)
for the following circumstances:
dark clouds, bad weather, low visibility,
driving out in the country side - and in the kind of intense traffic situation you
get in urban Auckland sometimes, where plonkers will try to push into your road-space if you look the least bit "easy".

I've just driven back from Paeroa yesterday, and I had my lights on cos there's always
farm machinery or other mad drivers wanting to pull out in front of you from side roads ........it gives them a chance to see you and guage your speed and distance more accurately, I reckon.
A recent development I hate tho is the way the new halogen type headlights shine different colours etc when the car goes over bumps in the road, it is very distracting. Those lights can be very glaring also, and look as if they are
on full beam. Then when the vehicle gets closer, they aren't on full beam at all, just flash and dazzle as if they are.
'Orrible.....

[wkid_one]

A recent development I hate tho is the way the new halogen type headlights shine different colours etc when the car goes over bumps in the road, it is very distracting. Those lights can be very glaring also, and look as if they are
on full beam. Then when the vehicle gets closer, they aren't on full beam at all, just flash and dazzle as if they are.
'Orrible.....
Mainly in the European cars (Audi, Volvos etc) - seems to be a better ligght for low light conditions apparently. Had Halogens on the R1 - which looked blue - kinda cool on a blue bike......but a horrendus waste of money given I seldom rode the bike at nigght......

[Cuban]

love that avatar wicked...

[wkid_one]

try my site - have heaps more