€200 fine for HIDs in Austria

[Big Derek]

And I know some people who will never go to Austria / Switzerland for the same reasons, its not high on my list of places to visit, This thread is not the 1st to complain about the enthusiastic Austrian and Swiss police there have been many, it doesn't seem to be a one off!. The 200 euro fine for the lights is outrageous

Yes the €200 each was outrageous and the fact that i had no option but to pay in cash! I was bullied and i have to say they were like gestapo police! Mick was allowed (so kind) to pay his €200 on credit card and has subsequently received a 3 page letter in german... from the Landeck Police we are interested in getting it read by one of our pals this coming Saturday. I myself have had no letter so maybe my €200 Cash was a kitty fund who know's.

I dont want to keep harpin on but i do feel €200 each for hids was a bit steep their attitude was cold and unfriendly,i have rode many miles on bikes through Europe including Austria on the same bike last year,(with hids) Les Wassall fitted the new Hids less than 2 months ago and they are a white light not blue and are not blinding and have been adjusted for load etc. If we were speeding through the towns or breaking traffic laws , other than displaying lights! I could half understand it.As I said we just wanted to warn fellow bike riders that Austrian police particularly Tute and Plute in Landeck were on the warpath.. and again motorcyclists were the targets.

It don't matter if your a Hids fan or not everyone has different opinions but the way we are pulled and fleeced just didn't seem cricket.

When we rode back as soon as we got out of Austria into Switzerland, Germany,France,UK we had the hids and spots on....saw plenty of police and nodded to the police bikers as usual no prob's. So I for one will be missing Austria of my motorcycle trips next year.

Big D

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Why do you need HID's in daylight?

I have never considered them, because I mainly ride in the daylight especially whilst on holiday and if I've had to ride at evening/night i've usually got by on what BMW have provided on my GS's since 1996 (not ideal but ok)

For daylight use I can see no justification for HID's

Maybe the Austrian Polis feel the same

 

[MikeP]

I myself have had no letter so maybe my €200 Cash was a kitty fund who know's.

Did you ask for and receive a receipt for your cash?

I wouldn't hand over cash to any copper without a receipt including information as to what offence was committed and clearly stating the amount of the fine.

No paperwork, no money.

 

[Number 6]

I hate HIDs, they're a fucking menace, I wish more fines like this were handed out then maybe we'd see less of the damn things. All they are is a fashion accessory, more useless 'bling' added to the rest of the tat seen on many GSs.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

I hate HIDs, they're a fucking menace, I wish more fines like this were handed out then maybe we'd see less of the damn things. All they are is a fashion accessory, more useless 'bling' added to the rest of the tat seen on many GSs.

+1
For daytime riding, on bikes that never see rain, let alone a desert rally stage

 

[cookie]

+1
For daytime riding, on bikes that never see rain, let alone a desert rally stage

is this just for badly adjusted HIDs or all of them, only you've never complained about mine in your mirrors?

the reason i have HIDs in the daylight, is that i find swapping them out twice a day a bit of a fag

Big Derek

you broke the law. get over it

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

is this just for badly adjusted HIDs or all of them, only you've never complained about mine in your mirrors?

the reason i have HIDs in the daylight, is that i find swapping them out twice a day a bit of a fag

Big Derek

you broke the law. get over it

Incorrectly adjusted ones, yes

I do find all a bit 'retina burning' at times, but just forget it nowadays because there is more with than without

 

[cookie]

I do find all a bit 'retina burning' at times, but just forget it nowadays because there is more with than without

probably not for much longer. i don't think it will be long before more countries start enforcing the law.

then we can all go back stumbling about in the gloom. i'm sure that's much safer

 

[Beemerman59]

When we rode back as soon as we got out of Austria into Switzerland, Germany,France,UK we had the hids and spots on....saw plenty of police and nodded to the police bikers as usual no prob's. So I for one will be missing Austria of my motorcycle trips next year.

Big D

Do you really mean you had HID spots on or do you mean the BMW Aux lights which from my perspective are not spots, they're closer to fogs.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

probably not for much longer. i don't think it will be long before more countries start enforcing the law.

then we can all go back stumbling about in the gloom. i'm sure that's much safer

C'est la vie, eurocrats

I can count on 2 hands the number of miles I ride in the dark each year

Only ride for leisure, so no desire to ride after dark, much prefer the warmth, safety and CD palyer in my car for night driving

Coincidentally, I only see (except from the odd Harley) Adv bikes with masses of lights on them, like they're about to commence a Dakar night rally stage, on the way to Tesco's

Fashion over form, I reckon................when most of us only use our bikes for leisure/holidays

 

[Beemerman59]

probably not for much longer. i don't think it will be long before more countries start enforcing the law.

then we can all go back stumbling about in the gloom. i'm sure that's much safer

As I do a lot of nightime riding including the dismal portions of the English winter, I found the standard offering on the 1200GS to be of limited use hence upgrading to HID. I agree, they're pointless really unless you ride at night a lot and then only perhaps if you ride in a rural area as I do. I know the headlamp is not "E" marked for use with HID and I take that risk in the UK and its not yet part of the MOT so it has passed in that respect. However, given the nature of riding in Europe I would take the HID off the standard headlamp as the euro police are hotter on this than the UK police ... at the moment. That may change in which case I will have to remove the HID at least on the OEM headlamp and if they change the MOT test accordingly the same will apply.

 

[red1]

Do you really mean you had HID spots on or do you mean the BMW Aux lights which from my perspective are not spots, they're closer to fogs.

Like most other GS they are HID's in the standard BMW spots.

 

[Beemerman59]

Like most other GS they are HID's in the standard BMW spots.

OK so you mean the OEM Aux lights then. I count spots as being long range lights such as Hi beam and the Aux lights are not in that category.

 

[cookie]

C'est la vie, eurocrats

I can count on 2 hands the number of miles I ride in the dark each year

Only ride for leisure, so no desire to ride after dark, much prefer the warmth, safety and CD palyer in my car for night driving

Coincidentally, I only see (except from the odd Harley) Adv bikes with masses of lights on them, like they're about to commence a Dakar night rally stage, on the way to Tesco's

Fashion over form, I reckon................when most of us only use our bikes for leisure/holidays

TBH i rarely ride at night, but when i do, i like to see where i'm going. the HIDs are magnificent while riding the dorset backroads after dark. probably adds 20mph to safe speed

i could live without them, and will remove them if i have to.

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

A mate's just returned from Austria - 100 Euros for a HID bulb on his dip beam (1200GS) - as per the OP, near Landeck

Andres

 

[Big Derek]

A mate's just returned from Austria - 100 Euros for a HID bulb on his dip beam (1200GS) - as per the OP, near Landeck

Andres

Bet it was Tute and Plute who did me for €200 last month! Did he get to use Credit Card or was he made to pay cash?

 

[brianmaslen]

So forgive me if I haven't read all 8 pages but which countries apart from Austria are taking this approach with HID's?

 

[Flipfly]

C'est la vie, eurocrats

I can count on 2 hands the number of miles I ride in the dark each year

Only ride for leisure, so no desire to ride after dark, much prefer the warmth, safety and CD palyer in my car for night driving

Coincidentally, I only see (except from the odd Harley) Adv bikes with masses of lights on them, like they're about to commence a Dakar night rally stage, on the way to Tesco's

Fashion over form, I reckon................when most of us only use our bikes for leisure/holidays

Johnny, if you don't ride at night, then that's why you can't see the point. I have my (well adjusted and non blinding!!) HID dipped beam on in the day, because I like to be seen and I always drive with my lights on. At night, HID's are a different league to the shite standard lighting (the hi beam on the 1150 is a chocolate teapot!).
I have LEDs in my hellas as I found the H3 bulbs were too bright and HIDing them seems excessive, I only want them as extra markers for daytime as I have found other drivers appear to notice the 3 point light more than a single headlight. At night the LEDs throw next to no light so they won't upset anyone.
Next is 2 3100lm Cree spotlights to assist the hi beam. This will piss those who decide on a HI beam off.

I ride at night quite alot, I actually enjoy it. But it's much nicer if your lighting is both practical and doesn't upset the other road users. Perfectly possible if set up correctly Unfortunately most just pop a bulb in and blind the feck out of everyone. It has taken me probably 1/2 an hour in all to get the dipped beam set up to where it is useful but not upsetting. Not only have I had to move it down considerably, but also to the left.

Abroad, the dipped beam would blind massively unless I used a filter. Did any of those fined use a filter to stop the left hand run off from the dipped beam blinding on coming traffic?

Apart from all the above JB, I am also thinking some nice red neons under the bash plate and maybe some of those tyre fly thingies to make my wheels look all lit up

 

[(RIP) Kaister]

............. their attitude was cold and unfriendly............. but the way we are pulled and fleeced just didn't seem cricket.

......

Travelling abroad - rule no 3

the softest and fairest police in the world are the British.
Everywhere else they are unfriendly, uncommunicative and generally have guns.
Don't expect to be treated nicely in another country if you've pissed them off.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Travelling abroad - rule no 3

the softest and fairest police in the world are the British.
Everywhere else they are unfriendly, uncommunicative and generally have guns.
Don't expect to be treated nicely in another country if you've pissed them off.

Quite right, expect the worst