Illegality of blue lights?

stevire

Does anyone know the legality of having blue rotating lights on a vehicle? Last I heard was that they were illegal to use and not illegal to have.

I'm currently converting an ambulance to a camper, and was going to leave the blue lights on until I had the time and alternative solution. (other than leave a big hole in the roof!!) There are in no way connected.

Anybody shed some light on the area?

Lurching

Id imagine (not based on any fact) that if you simply painted over the blue lenses with black gloss paint that they would never be seen, or cause an issue.

MagicSean

I'd get rid of them or paint them. I cant locate the legislation at the moment but I think it prohibits them being used. But a garda might take issue with them. And you are drawing attention to yourself.

sgthighway

You could:
disconnect the switch to the lights straight away
remove the beacon or bar light and seal up any holes or if they are recessed into the body; remove the blue lenses and bring them to a good sign maker and they can wrap them for you.

For peace of mind I would not leave them blue if it no longer an ambulance.

source

Paint them the colour of the body of the ambulance, that'll solve your problem.

ivabiggon

ehhh! buy a real camper!!;)

Run_to_da_hills

Just put a bucket over it, you may need it when get stuck in traffic. :pac:

Hooch

stevire wrote: »

Does anyone know the legality of having blue rotating lights on a vehicle? Last I heard was that they were illegal to use and not illegal to have.

I'm currently converting an ambulance to a camper, and was going to leave the blue lights on until I had the time and alternative solution. (other than leave a big hole in the roof!!) There are in no way connected.

Anybody shed some light on the area?

The use of any flashing light is illegal unless you fall into the set catagories defined on legislation.

While there is no offence of having the lights there and not flashing, common sense would dictate that you remove or paint them. They will draw inwanted attention from AGS and members of the public who will see blues and think you an ambo if you come across an RTC.

I'm guessing you have a ford Ambo for convertion with the blues built in on all corners.....these are easy to paint.

Out of curiosity, is there a law against Joe Soap owning a vehicle with FIRE or AMBULANCE written on it?

I've never heard of such a law, but you'd think that'd be a bigger issue than flashing lights.

Also, the OP says his lights aren't actually functional.. Thus; he's not really breaking the law is he?

Can anyone direct me to where I'd get to read the actual law regarding this? I always find it interesting

DubMedic

Deleted User wrote: »

Out of curiosity, is there a law against Joe Soap owning a vehicle with FIRE or AMBULANCE written on it?

I've never heard of such a law, but you'd think that'd be a bigger issue than flashing lights.

Also, the OP says his lights aren't actually functional.. Thus; he's not really breaking the law is he?

Can anyone direct me to where I'd get to read the actual law regarding this? I always find it interesting

Statute books are available online.

I'm aware of that, but haven't a clue where to look.

Google search returned this though;

You must not fit blue or red flashing lights which are solely reserved for Garda, ambulance and other designated service vehicles. See www.transport.ie for details.

Not really enough info there, though. Plus no mention of green/amber.

from;
http://www.irishmotoring.ie/cms/publish/car/rulesoftheroad/Vehicle_Safety.php


EDIT

Found this:

http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1996/en/si/0137.html


according to that, OP seems grand. His lights don't actually work, so he's in the clear?

coolmoose

http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/

contains more laws than you will ever want to read...

bravestar

stevire wrote: »

Does anyone know the legality of having blue rotating lights on a vehicle? Last I heard was that they were illegal to use and not illegal to have.

I'm currently converting an ambulance to a camper, and was going to leave the blue lights on until I had the time and alternative solution. (other than leave a big hole in the roof!!) There are in no way connected.

Anybody shed some light on the area?

While it may not be illegal to have them on your vehicle, do you really want to get pulled ever 20 minutes by different gardai when your driving around who want to make sure they are not working? Could make a nice trip down the country into a nightmare. Just paint them or get rid of them.

stevire

nice guy always wrote: »

The use of any flashing light is illegal unless you fall into the set catagories defined on legislation.

While there is no offence of having the lights there and not flashing, common sense would dictate that you remove or paint them. They will draw inwanted attention from AGS and members of the public who will see blues and think you an ambo if you come across an RTC.

I'm guessing you have a ford Ambo for convertion with the blues built in on all corners.....these are easy to paint.

Thanks for all the replies. The plan is to remove them eventually, and they are not connected in any way shape or form!!

It's a 94 Mercedes Ambo...

mm.ie

Not sure I'd get the wife to agree to sleep in a meat wagon........Blue Lights or not.

patrickrushe

Defo loose them. Even paint over them. Volunteer with St John Ambulance - First Aid and I know that one person who bought a decommissioned vehicle got into a world of pain..

There is actually an ambulance outside the Montrose hotel at the moment and someone has painted over the blue lights.. Its an old wilker build transit.

In fairness, the old transits run forever, so they might be worth converting to a camper.. Personally, I don't see the attraction of sleeping in a meat wagon though.. Would it not be just as easy to convert a van?

coolmoose

patrickrushe wrote: »

Would it not be just as easy to convert a van?

I think the attraction with them is:

• Windows already in place
• Prewired for 12v in rear, with multiple lights installed
• Wider body than most vans
• Most have a Webasto or other form of diesel heater
• Some have inverters built in providing 12>230v
• Skylight
• Through cab access
• Storage cupboards

Saves a fair bit of hassle I'd say.

patrickrushe

coolmoose wrote: »

I think the attraction with them is:

• Windows already in place
• Prewired for 12v in rear, with multiple lights installed
• Wider body than most vans
• Most have a Webasto or other form of diesel heater
• Some have inverters built in providing 12>230v
• Skylight
• Through cab access
• Storage cupboards

Saves a fair bit of hassle I'd say.

Well, when you put it like that...

stevire

patrickrushe wrote: »

Defo loose them. Even paint over them. Volunteer with St John Ambulance - First Aid and I know that one person who bought a decommissioned vehicle got into a world of pain..

There is actually an ambulance outside the Montrose hotel at the moment and someone has painted over the blue lights.. Its an old wilker build transit.

In fairness, the old transits run forever, so they might be worth converting to a camper.. Personally, I don't see the attraction of sleeping in a meat wagon though.. Would it not be just as easy to convert a van?

It's an ex Order of Malta Ambulance so can't imagine it has seen too much meat inside it!!

It's a Mercedes, as I said earlier it doesn't have the Ambo look about it as it is a van conversion so doesn't have the chassis cab!

coolmoose wrote: »

I think the attraction with them is:

• Windows already in place
• Prewired for 12v in rear, with multiple lights installed
• Wider body than most vans
• Most have a Webasto or other form of diesel heater
• Some have inverters built in providing 12>230v
• Skylight
• Through cab access
• Storage cupboards

Saves a fair bit of hassle I'd say.

I think this answers your question about converting from a van... There is an Eberspacher heater in the back which is worth more than the van!

Also has reinforced panels and fiberglass boards which provides insulation. Seperate fuse box for components in the back which saves hours on wiring. I got it at a good price so couldn't turn it down, I was looking into vans when I came across the Ambo.

patrickrushe

Sounds good. Fair play.. Hope it works out for you.. Post a pic!!

stevire

patrickrushe wrote: »

Sounds good. Fair play.. Hope it works out for you.. Post a pic!!

Image was too big to post so have it attached instead

gbee

The law concerns the use of them on the public roadways.

Many decommissioned rescue vehicles still have their blues n twos, and one will often see them in parades, charity events, car shows etc.

Now, if one was driving around everyday then it may be become a problem.

I made a conversion many years ago, and the comments about the actual body shape is correct, I was grey with no lights at all, but it was around the time of the Buttevant train crash and people were giving way to me everywhere I went, it really became embarrassing, to the point that I was singled out in a traffic queue by a points duty officer and waved through.

I then repined by ambulance in bright and dark blue stripes ~ that finally got me unanimity again.

stevire

stevire wrote: »

Image was too big to post so have it attached instead

That looks surprisingly well, actually. Fair play.