Are there any laws which prevent someone from having a blue flashing light on their boat in the british isles?

Question

Are there any laws which prevent someone from having a blue flashing light on their boat in the british isles?

Answer 1

yes it against the law, dont know off hand what the law is but it is against the law. something to do with emergency vehicles etc

Answer 2

You may have a blue flashing light on your boat.

You only break the law if you use it to impersonate authority.

It should also be part of your security system as a visual aid that your boat is being tampered with.

Answer 3

Never mind the plethora of often silly regs for inland waterways. I reckon a blue flasher is a good idea, so thanks for the notion. I may fit one on mine.

It already has navigation lights, a headlight, a rear deck light, and a strange reversing light on the back for no clever reason.

I strap up twinkling christmas bulbs from the static inverter at an appropriate time of year.

Daft really, but it sort of sets the narrowboat apart.

What about a wailing police-style siren to accompany the standard horn thing?

I am sure that Brit Waterways would not bother, but if at sea, there may be a problem.

Blue flasher on the roof it shall be, then.

Cheers,

Bob

Answer 4

It's a BIG "NO-NO" on Long Island, so is a white strobe light flashing more that 60 times per minute, as it indicates a ship in "Distress". Local marine enforcement uses blue lights as emergency lights, if you see a blue flashing light, get the h**l out of the way, and pull over.

Answer 5

Blue flashing lights are a definite No No. Better make sure you have the right whistle as well!

INTERNATIONAL REGULATIONS FOR

PREVENTING COLLISIONS AT SEA, 1972.

(as amended by Resolutions A464(XII), A626(15), A678(16) and A736(18))

http://www.cvs1.co.uk/wyenavigation/a.ht...

Answer 6

impersonating an officer of the law

Answer 7

Colregs International Rules reserve flashing blue lights for law enforcement. In general, inland rules tend to follow the international laws, but you would have to read the colregs inland rules for the british isles to be sure.

Answer 8

Yes. They are only for use by emergency services and other law enforcement authorities like Harbour Masters.

Same thing as your question on vehicles, same rules apply.