owelly
|
| posted on 26/9/12 at 10:13 AM |
|
|
Driving ex-emergency vehicle.
Now I have bought an ambulance to convert into a camper, I need to know if I have to remove the battenberg decals.
The authority that disposed of it removed the worded decals so it no longer mentions 'paramedic', 'emergency' or
'ambulance', and they painted the blue lights black. The disposal company I bought it off said this was all that was needed, which
coincides with what I have read from other ex-emergency vehicle owners who drive them to shows, displays, etc.
However, I found a site which mentioned reflectors and reflective decals are included in lighting construction and use regs, but the site didn't
reference to any official site. I've also read that the blue lights are not classed the same as green lights as in blue lights (and reflectors)
cannot be fitted, even if they are not working.
So, do I need to remove the green and yellow reflective decals? I will be removing them eventually as I don't want anyone expecting me to stop
and administer first aid at an incident, or try to explain to someone why I can't remove a pan from their childs ear, but even heating the
decals fails to ease removal without damaging the paint.
http://www.ppcmag.co.uk
|
|
|
|
|
Norfolkluegojnr
|
| posted on 26/9/12 at 10:47 AM |
|
|
i think it depends on the decals.
I used to work for an engineering company who fitted out police/ambulance/fire vehicles, and they have very specific colourings - certain colours
aren't allowed for anyone but emergency services.
If you give them a call i'm sure they'll be able to tell you - RSG Engineering linky
its been a while, but ask for Graham or Lisa 
|
|
|
BenB
|
| posted on 26/9/12 at 11:02 AM |
|
|
At car shows I've seen lots of "classic" ambulances which have quite clearly driven there. Don't see what the problem would
be. The blue lights might be a bit borderline but I can't see how having stripes down your car could be considered illegal. And I don't
think pretending to be an ambulance is a criminal offence.
|
|
|
britishtrident
|
| posted on 26/9/12 at 11:10 AM |
|
|
In a dim and distant corner of my memory ISTR painting over the lense of a light is from the laws point of veiw considered the same as removal
..... but disconnecting or putting a removable cover isn't.
[I] “ What use our work, Bennet, if we cannot care for those we love? .”
― From BBC TV/Amazon's Ripper Street.
[/I]
|
|
|
mookaloid
|
| posted on 26/9/12 at 11:29 AM |
|
|
I think I remember a motorcyclist being asked to remove the Hi visibility silver and yellow horizontal reflective stripes from his white BMW with
white panniers as he could be accused of impersonating a police officer which could be an offence.
I don't think you are any danger of being mistaken for a real ambulance but to be sure you could stick some vinyl or something over the
reflective bits which would stop people from asking you to treat their heart attack 
"That thing you're thinking - it wont be that."
|
|
|
zilspeed
|
| posted on 26/9/12 at 11:45 AM |
|
|
You really need an Anagram of Ambulance on there.
An online generator makes the following suggestions.
These are the ones which don't include some naughty words.
Supptu you which you prefer ;-)
Ambulance
Balance Um
Balance Mu
Cabal Menu
Nebula Mac
Nebula Cam
Unable Mac
Unable Cam
Alb Acumen
Lab Acumen
Album Acne
Album Cane
A Becalm Nu
A Lace Numb
A Camel Nub
A Camel Bun
A Lance Bum
A Clean Bum
A Can Umbel
A Mane Club
A Name Club
A Mean Club
A Amen Club
Cabal Em Nu
Cabal Me Nu
Cabal En Um
Cabal En Mu
Canal Be Um
Canal Be Mu
Lama Cub En
|
|
|
owelly
|
| posted on 26/9/12 at 11:59 AM |
|
|
Thanks for the replies guys.
Blue lights, or something that looks like a blue lighr, has to be removed or painted over. I'm happy that I've sorted that. And reflective
blue decals are specifically mentioned in various VOSA, DfT, DVLA, .gov websites and I'm OK with that. What I can't verify, is the other
reflective colours. There are stipulations on who can use what coloured lights, but those regs don't mention reflective decals. It's the
construction and use regs that, although they don't specify emergency vehicle lighting, class any reflective materials/reflectors, as lights.
I'm not using the ambo on the road with green and yellow decals until I have a printed copy of the relevant regs to wave it the ModPlod where I
work as they WILL have a problem with it!
http://www.ppcmag.co.uk
|
|
|
owelly
|
| posted on 26/9/12 at 12:01 PM |
|
|
Here we are hiding....
http://www.ppcmag.co.uk
|
|
|
matt_gsxr
|
| posted on 26/9/12 at 12:20 PM |
|
|
wikipedia seems to be a good source on this.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battenburg_markings
|
|
|
Not Anumber
|
| posted on 26/9/12 at 12:29 PM |
|
|
Just add a large Locst Builders logo on each side.
|
|
|
MRLuke
|
| posted on 26/9/12 at 12:56 PM |
|
|
That does look very much like a normal ambulance in that picture.
From what I have heard tho the reflective vinyl is a nightmare to get off and most people recommend laying it over the top of a normal white vinyl to
start with so that it can be removed at a later date.
Depends what your plans are with it really, if you are intending on respraying it then you could rattle can over the reflectors for now or put a big
line through them or similar. However if you want to keep the colour scheme as is then its a bit more difficult as it looks very much like a working
ambulance.
|
|
|
motorcycle_mayhem
|
| posted on 26/9/12 at 01:15 PM |
|
|
I saw an ambulance with 'Paramedic' turned into 'Mobile Phone medic', with all the other stickers on it remaining.
Depite what the law may actually be, there are enough converted campers running around that have retained the two-tone reflectivity. Ambulances
aren't all 'emergency' vehicles either, some around here are simply reflective minibuses transporting the aged NIMBY population to
the shops and complaining centres.
My Land Rover 109 ambulance doesn't have any reflectivity, it's Olive Drab, but it retains the blue lights and has huge red crosses on the
rear and both sides. I've driven this around Europe with no problems, but felt a bit awkward when towing the race car to Kirkistown (NI) 2
months ago! - but again, no issues.
|
|
|
Irony
|
| posted on 26/9/12 at 01:56 PM |
|
|
I think if you remove the word ambulance and remove the blue lights you will be okay. Can you be arrested for impersonating a paramedic?
|
|
|
HowardB
|
| posted on 26/9/12 at 03:46 PM |
|
|
There are plenty of other vehicles that have the same rear markings - service vehicles and also the motorway wombles have battenberg, they are neither
police or ambulance but civilians.
I would make it clear that it is not an ambulance with some additional stickering,....
hth
Howard
Fisher Fury was 2000 Zetec - now a 1600 (it Lives again and goes zoom)
|
|
|
morcus
|
| posted on 26/9/12 at 03:59 PM |
|
|
I would think you'd be alright as an ambulance is pretty much a regular vehicle out on the road if it's not got the lights going or
sirens, And off the top of my head, I'm sure you can right ambulance on anything as it includes alot of private vehicle types like hearses and
minibuses and I doubt they're all fully regulated.
In a White Room, With Black Curtains, By the Station.
|
|
|
owelly
|
| posted on 26/9/12 at 07:32 PM |
|
|
The vehicle cannot have blue lights, or anything that looks like a blue light. That's clear through the Construction and Use Regs. Likewise,
there are specific requirements for who can use green or orange lights. It also states that blue reflectors can only be used by folks that are listed.
It doesn't say who can use other coloured reflectors but, in a different part of 'the act', it states 'reflectors are
considered as lights', but that must only apply to that section of 'the act' otherwise it would mention it elsewhere. Possibly.
I think I'll use it until I'm told not to!
Nee-naaaaww.....
http://www.ppcmag.co.uk
|
|
|
hillbillyracer
|
| posted on 26/9/12 at 09:37 PM |
|
|
You cant have anything that looks like a blue light? For our banger rally car a couple of years back we had painted baby food tins on the roof of the
Astra, a good few coppers looked, most smiled & few did little or frowned but no-one stopped us!
Even as plain to see it wasn't a cop car it was funny to see the change in driving style when folk first saw it behind them!
|
|
|
Ninehigh
|
| posted on 27/9/12 at 12:16 AM |
|
|
I wonder if you could get away with "Not an ambulance"?
I wanted to do an ex police car with "fake police" on the side to see what happened
|
|
|
britishtrident
|
| posted on 27/9/12 at 10:50 AM |
|
|
quote:
Originally posted by Irony
I think if you remove the word ambulance and remove the blue lights you will be okay. Can you be arrested for impersonating a paramedic?
Yes you can, There was a serious case about 12 years ago in Paisley of a deluded idiot wannabee paramedic it who was doing just that> The nutter
driving an ex-ambulance service Land-Rover he was tuning into the ambulance service radio and turning up at heart attacks and administering drugs
and setting up drips then quickly leaving before the genuine guys turned up.
[Edited on 27/9/12 by britishtrident]
[I] “ What use our work, Bennet, if we cannot care for those we love? .”
― From BBC TV/Amazon's Ripper Street.
[/I]
|
|
|
Jasper
|
| posted on 27/9/12 at 12:27 PM |
|
|
Owelly, keep us posted of your build, I'm thinking of doing the same thing next year
If you're not living life on the edge you're taking up too much room.
|
|
|
owelly
|
| posted on 27/9/12 at 02:13 PM |
|
|
I'd start a blog if I knew wtf a blog was....
So far, I've been making the electrics safe. There were big clumps of wires behind the drivers seat that had been hacked through. Must have been
a radio and satnav in there.
Also removed window from cab bulkhead ready to fire up the jigsaw tomorrow!
http://www.ppcmag.co.uk
|
|
|
