€200 fine for HIDs in Austria

[The Grey One]

Austria is not Switzerland. They have about as much in common as the UK and France.

How right you are, one of the things we discovered when we came here was that the southern Austrians at least are so laid back as to be almost horizontal! We sort of expected a Germanic efficiency and sense of punctuality. What we found was lovely people who thought that appointments were a movable feast-if the said they would come at 9am on a Wednesday for instance, then they did not consider themselves late if they made it in the same week. I can't think you would find that attitude in Switzerland.

These attitudes filter through into life in general here, it's great once you get used to it and might be part of the answer as to why their heart attack rate is so low- they just don't do stress!

John

 

[ymfb]

I have never ridden in Germany, Austria or Switzerland, but I'm sure I will one day and for that reason I'm glad this thread was started.

Right or wrong we all now know that there is a possibility of being fined upto €300 for using after market HID lights in Austria.

What I do say is there should be a UK government website where we can check what laws/regulations exist in other EU countries so we are at least prepared. If this already exists its poorly advertised as I have never seen it.

 

[The Grey One]

I have never ridden in Germany, Austria or Switzerland, but I'm sure I will one day and for that reason I'm glad this thread was started.

Right or wrong we all now know that there is a possibility of being fined upto €300 for using after market HID lights in Austria.

What I do say is there should be a UK government website where we can check what laws/regulations exist in other EU countries so we are at least prepared. If this already exists its poorly advertised as I have never seen it.

According to our Dutch guests you can add Holland to the list of places where such you can be fined for such lights-they tell me that the fines there would be at least as much. They have added that in most cases the police would not be bothered to do anything. I suspect that is the case in the UK as well as here in southern Austria.

John

 

[Greg Masters]

What I do say is there should be a UK government website where we can check what laws/regulations exist in other EU countries so we are at least prepared. If this already exists its poorly advertised as I have never seen it.

How hard did you look?

http://www.dft.gov.uk/vca/vehicletype/type-approval-for-mo.asp

 

[ymfb]

How hard did you look?

http://www.dft.gov.uk/vca/vehicletype/type-approval-for-mo.asp

I'm not sure that helps, does it say when riding in France you need spare bulbs or when in Austria you shall not ride with after market HID lights ?

 

[Greg Masters]

I'm not sure that helps, does it say .... when in Austria you shall not ride with after market HID lights ?

Well, yes, it does.

"EC Whole Vehicle Type Approval (ECWVTA) is based around EC Directives and provides for the approval of whole vehicles, in addition to vehicle systems and separate components"

So if you feck with your bike and change a component that is covered by Type Approval for an item that is not Type approved, your vehicle is illegal to use anywhere in Europe. The last time I looked, that included Austria.

 

[Greg Masters]

I'm not sure that helps, does it say when riding in France you need spare bulbs ....

The French biker probably can't find a website that says you must tirez a gauche when in the UK.

How much spoon feeding does a chap really need?



Greg

 

[The Grey One]

The French biker probably can't find a website that says you must tirez a gauche when in the UK.

How much spoon feeding does a chap really need?



Greg

My experience is that with some people the more you do for them the more they expect!

Taking responsibility for one's own actions is becoming increasingly rare these days.




John

 

[bmwrover]

Dark visors are no problem over here but had been subject to fines in the UK, so each country has its own little "adventure"

We got nicked for speeding in Austria, but it was a big group all going at silly speed and the police only fined the first two riders, very small fine at 30 Euro each, well pleased with that. Dont think the Germans would have been so kind.

I found the parking fine in Nottingham extremely over priced at 50 GBP in 1990, when the pound had been 3 German Mark.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

No sympathy for HID's from me, hate the things

 

[sdcastle]

HID's in europe. be warned

A word of warning regarding HID headlights in Europe. I am currently on my way back from Italy got pulled in Austria today. I was told my headlight was illegal. I explained I had paid extra for the non dazzle bulb. Plod was having non of it and stated either I give him 100 euros or he takes the bike away there and then.

if you are going abroad put your old H7 lamps back in. Might save you a few quid.

 

[Packer]

Were you using a high colour temperature lamp? Blue tinged light?

Just avoid Austria in the future.

 

[Deleted account Cooperman]

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=312410

Austrians = Swiss wannabe's

 

[sdcastle]

I didn't go for trendy and blue as they look stupid. Can't remember the temp but they were advertised as legal for reflector lenses. will be having a word when I get back.

 

[MickTheSaw]

We told you, the Austrians are having a laff at us.I wouldn't go with Hids at all now to Austria.

 

[Flipfly]

No sympathy for HID's from me, hate the things

Johnny I think you're confused matey, there talking about lights, your talking about STD's

Silly boy

I like HIDs, but I personally think 4000k-4600k colour is the best colour as it is white, not that obvious blue.

My current GS has an HID of the blue 6k colour (it was on the bike when I bought it). I spent 15 minutes the other night sorting out the beam. Who ever fitted it just put the bulb in and left it. It was pointing way too high. Ended up using the adjuster screws on the actual lens to get it right.

The cut of on the 1150 is very good with the HID and very little light scatter (like you get with many other types of headlights).

I also have micro DE's fitted and I like to use them as markers as opposed to fogs (I have them pointed very low s as not to blind). I will be fitting LED bulbs to them asap which will reduce light output, but improve them as markers.

Safety lighting is fine,imho, but unless lights are correctly aligned so as not to blind oncoming traffic, you aren't actually making yourself safer, you may in fact be putting yourself in more danger.

 

[MikeP]

To quote Mr Stalker, I'm convinced this will be a major breakthrough in road safety (acknowledgment to Dunlop Denovo tyres )

Sir Robert Mark. Stalker sold window shutters.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Johnny I think you're confused matey, there talking about lights, your talking about STD's

Silly boy

I like HIDs, but I personally think 4000k-4600k colour is the best colour as it is white, not that obvious blue.

My current GS has an HID of the blue 6k colour (it was on the bike when I bought it). I spent 15 minutes the other night sorting out the beam. Who ever fitted it just put the bulb in and left it. It was pointing way too high. Ended up using the adjuster screws on the actual lens to get it right.

The cut of on the 1150 is very good with the HID and very little light scatter (like you get with many other types of headlights).

I also have micro DE's fitted and I like to use them as markers as opposed to fogs (I have them pointed very low s as not to blind). I will be fitting LED bulbs to them asap which will reduce light output, but improve them as markers.

Safety lighting is fine,imho, but unless lights are correctly aligned so as not to blind oncoming traffic, you aren't actually making yourself safer, you may in fact be putting yourself in more danger.

The Austrian polis will love you )

Tell us how you get on, Phil

 

[Myke Rocks]

Wasn't he the policeman:

Originally Posted by Mick-B

To quote Mr Stalker, I'm convinced this will be a major breakthrough in road safety (acknowledgment to Dunlop Denovo tyres )

Sir Robert Mark(s). Stalker sold window shutters.

Robert Marks.
Yes He was the Metropolitan police chief who on his appointment was asked what was his target for his first year in office.
He replied: "To catch more criminals than we currently employ".
Currently, at the top end, it would appear this target has been missed.
Myke

 

[Beemerman59]

Next time I venture across the channel I think I will just replace the HID on the dipped beam with a standard H7 - just one less thing to be concerned about plus I don't ride much at night when abroad. I would keep the HID's fitted to the Aux and Spot lights but only use them as intended - I certainly wouldn't have the Aux lights on during normal daylight conditions unless it was poor visibility.