How decorating your car for Halloween could cost you thousands in fines – here’s how to avoid being caught out
SPOOKY season is upon us and drivers have seen a surge in the popularity of Halloween car decorations.
However, motorists face a horrifying threat this month, not of ghosts and ghouls, but of hefty fines for piling in on the latest trend.
The fad has reportedly emerged in the but has spread around the world, with a 104 per cent increase in popularity over the past month.
Meanwhile, the hashtag #HalloweenCar has a whopping 5.1 million views on .
Experts at Leasing Options, a leasing service based in , have shared some top tips on how to avoid getting into trouble over your ride's scary mods.
They've made a list of dangerous decorations which could land motorists in hot water and how to avoid any issues.
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Driving in dangerous conditions
Some of the top temporary decorations include fake blood, handprints and stickers to give the car a creepy look.
Just be careful that stickers don't obstruct your view of the road, or you could be slapped with a £2,500 fine, three points on your license and even a ban.
This is because if anything blocks out your view it is considered driving a vehicle in dangerous conditions.
Any accidents you have while the obstructions are in place could invalidate your insurance.
The same goes for spiderwebs and even turning your rear-view window into a Halloween scene.
In the latter case you should also make sure everything is secure and that your number plate is visible if you plan on driving anywhere.
Stickers can also damage paintwork and leave residue on windows.
If this happens, most residue can be shifted using a cloth soaked in a mix of warm water and either rubbing alcohol or white vinegar.
Arm out the boot
One particularly scary decoration that has grown in popularity is a fake arm hanging out the boot.
This can either give the impression of a severed limb or someone trapped in the back of the car, both of which lean heavily into the Halloween vibe.
However, Leasing Options warns that it is a controversial move and could get you in big trouble.
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.
A fake arm could be considered such an offence if it offends or scares other motorists.
You could also be fined an additional £1,000 if the fake arm covers your number plate.
Similarly changing any part of your car in a way that makes it offensive or too controversial could fall foul of this rule.
Headlight colour
Some drivers have taken to changing the colour of their headlights to aid the spooky atmosphere.
The only problems are the little-known rules around car lights, which are surprisingly strict.
For example. 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.
There are also certain colours that are only allowed to be used by certain people.
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For example green lights can only be fitted on vehicles used by doctors or vets, whilst blue lights can only be used by emergency vehicles like ambulances or police cars.
Using these without permission can result in a £50 fine.
