Britons could get slapped with over £13,000 in fines this Halloween by breaking a series of little-known driving laws, according to experts.
Experts at Leasing Options warn simply decorating a car could land drivers in hot water with hefty fines likely to follow.
Getting into the spooky spirit may be a lot of fun but can come with some serious ramifications.
Individual charges are around £2,500 each but these could add up if road users breach multiple rules. The latest threat comes after a surge in interest in car decorating after the trend first popped up in the USA.
Halloween decorations on cars have seen a 62 percent spike in popularity based on Google searches in the past month, while the hashtag #HalloweenCar has over 15.4 million views on TikTok.
READ MORE Drivers risk £5,000 fine this weekend for breaking little-known clothing rule
Blood handprints and stickers
These could be a great way to add some temporary colour to your driveway for little cost. Stickers can be placed in the windscreen or windows but those hoping to still use their vehicles must abide by the Highway Code.
However, those who intend to use their vehicle must ensure their view of the road is never obstructed or could risk being hit with fines of up to £2,500.
In some serious cases, road users could be slapped with three penalty points or even banned from the roads for driving a vehicle in a dangerous condition.
Arm sticking out of the boot
Leasing Options explained: “It might be Halloween, but staging a fake arm sticking out of your boot is a controversial decoration that could land you in a lot of trouble.
“Despite being one of the most popular choices of Halloween decorations for your car, doing this is inconsiderate towards other drivers and pedestrians. The Road Traffic Act 1988 states that driving ‘without reasonable consideration for other persons using the road or place’ is an offence, and could lead to you being stopped by the police and given up to a £5,000 fine.
“You could also be fined an additional £1,000 If the fake arm covers your number plate.”
DON’T MISS
Most haunted UK roads to visit this autumn – full list of spooky road trips[LATEST]
Drivers warned of little-known Halloween law that could result in fine[ANALYSIS]
‘Nonsense’ plan to let 15-year-olds drive takes step closer to Parliament debate[COMMENT]
- Advert-free experience without interruptions.
- Rocket-fast speedy loading pages.
- Exclusive & Unlimited access to all our content.
Spider webs
Spider webs completely covering your vehicle will look amazing and draw in trick-or-treaters in their droves.
However, motorists must make sure they can see the road and surroundings or could receive another £2,500 penalty.
Using the boot
The space in a car boot could be a hidden gem on Halloween and the perfect way to create iconic scene setters.
Anything from cemeteries, spooky faces and pumpkin displays can be displayed in a boot but road users should only do this while stationary.
Those who wish to continue driving must be able to see the road out of their rearview mirror at all times or could be hit with a £2,500 penalty.
Changing headlight colours
Motorists may be issued a £50 Fixed Penalty Notice and summoned to court if they go too far with their decorations.
Changing your car’s headlights for the big day may sound like a good idea but could land road users in massive amounts of trouble.
Leasing Options commented: “It is an offence to have red lights at the front of your car, white lights to the rear (unless reversing), or neon lights under or on the side of your car. If you have these, you can receive a £50 Fixed Penalty Notice.
“There are certain colours that are only allowed to be used by certain job roles, for example green lights can only be fitted on Medical Practitioner vehicles, whilst blue lights can only be used by emergency vehicles.”
Source: Read Full Article