Drivers making innocent car journey before October 31 face £8,000 fine

As Halloween approaches, drivers might be tempted to further the festivities by decorating their cars, but they should be aware that certain decorations can lead to serious legal consequences.

Drivers making an innocent car journey before October 31 face a staggering £8,000 fine. As Halloween approaches, drivers might be tempted to further the festivities by decorating their cars, but they should be aware that certain decorations can lead to serious legal consequences.

Damian Maginn, car expert and director of Wessex Vans, warned drivers about these lesser-known decoration rules that could lead to legal penalties and hefty fines over £8,000. He said: “Changing the colour of your car's headlights can pose legal risks. It’s illegal to have red lights at the front of the vehicle or white lights at the rear, except when reversing. Neon lights placed under or on the sides of the car are also prohibited and violating these regulations could result in a £50 Fixed Penalty Notice.

“Certain colours such as green are designated for specific job roles and if drivers are caught using these colours improperly, they risk receiving a £50 Fixed Penalty Notice and could be reported to the courts.” He added: “For instance, if decorations obstruct your view, you could face a fine of up to £1,000 and receive three penalty points on your licence. Using decorations like spiderwebs or hanging items from the rearview mirror can affect visibility, potentially putting both the driver and other road users at risk.

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“A mask on the passenger seat might seem harmless, but it could also result in an on-the-spot fine of £200 and three points for distracted driving. Decorating number plates with festive designs can lead to hefty penalties. A dirty, unclear, or illegible number plate could cost you £1,000 and three points.

“Additionally, decorations like bloody handprints or stickers on the car's exterior could result in careless driving charges, with fines reaching £3,000 and five points for obstructing the view. Loose decorations that detach and fall into the path of other road users can lead to an on-the-spot fine of £100 and three penalty points. In more severe cases, fines can escalate to £2,500, along with the possibility of disqualification from driving.

“Although you may be tempted to take pictures of festively decorated houses, using your phone while driving can result in a £200 fine and six penalty points, with the risk of losing your licence if you’re a new driver. It’s not just physical decorations that can lead to penalties; distractions like loud music might result in a £100 fine and three points under rule 148 of the Highway Code.