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

1. The lights were approved by the LTSA only 2 weeks prior to my taking the car for a drive.
2. They are factory fitted headlights and spots.....and to top it off
3. 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. 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