I think it’s a shame, I’ve been using internet forums for many many years (14 maybe) and have never been banned anywhere… until now.
Today I got this when navving to CPF…
So what terrible thing did I do?
Well it started off by posting a personal experience based on the topic at hand. My comment was deleted (no message to say why). So I reposted it thinking I must have only previewed it.
It then got deleted again saying it was promoting illegal activity…
I replied saying actually it isn’t illegal in the UK. - This got deleted too.
So I PM’d the moderator stating clearly “too keep it out of the forums I’ll PM you…”.
I attached a link to a Government document showing them that they were wrong to claim such a thing was illegal in the UK and added some detail to expand on it. I also highlighted how odd it is to remove things that are legal in the UK under the guise of “promoting illegal activity” while allowing a heavy use of hand guns to be talked about on CPF and pictures shown (I personally have nothing against this), as all handguns are banned in the UK and thus illegal. By CPF’s own rules they are heavily promoting firearms not legal in a country where they have a user community.
Mod said = All HIDs are illegal in the UK - Period!
I said = no that’s not true. There is no case law and the legislation is a grey area. The views of the DfT and DVLA are not legislation & laws only opinions (DfT article provided to the mod to illustrate this).
The Dft article even explains that they would even personally consider HIDs legal in the aftermarket if fitted to an approved lamp unit with self leveling ability. So it’s not a blanket “they are illegal” stance at all.
Mod said = banned
_
And note, some of this conversation was via a PM, so not even posted in the forum….
So basically, despite you living here and knowing how useless our legal system sometimes is……“i know best stfu” is the best way of continuing a conversation? Man, draconian or what?
Wrong, if the after market light had an automatic self leveling system its acceptable as it falls within the specifications of construction and use. As far as I know, no after market system manages this, but if it were done, it would be legal.
No, it concedes I’m no expert on every available after market hid head light system. There may be a system out there that does self level. In that case it would be legal as it follows the same design criteria as factory fitted systems.
If you want a real confusing vehicle construction and use conversation. Look into the use of a-frames as a method of transporting a second vehicle. Not even the department of transport can offer a cut and dry answer one way or the other.
My comment had been edited and mostly deleted so has no context there now.
That link above makes no mention to HIDs at all, so has zero bearing on their legality. In fact a HID could indeed meet all the requirements in the 1989 regulations.
The confusing part in the UK is, people like the DfT and others have expressed “views” that they are illegal - but this is NOT law. It is only an opinion of certain bodies. This is crucial and a very distinct difference.
I know things are a foot for change and there is a huge amount of misinformation including stuff from the EU that isn’t part of UK law, but until there is a legislative act or case law established they are not illegal. And indeed if you fit a kit using approved housing and self leveling ability then you’d be perfectly fine. e.g. if you have say an R56 MINI Cooper, these could be bought new with halogen or HIDs. If you use the self leveling mech and housing and aftermarket bulbs and wiring, then these are perfectly legal in the UK.
It’s also worth remembering that ‘technically’ running 80 watt halogen bulbs is illegal in the UK as the max is 55w, yet I’m willing to bet you can’t find a single case of a person being prosecuted for this. Nor for running HIDs.
I really think CD is clutching at straws, to justify his behavior, I guess if as he says his posts where deleted I’d have to stop and think why, I’m sure noones is deleting them for no reason, that just doesn’t make sense “Judge Judy: If it doesn’t make sense, it’s not true.”
Anyway nuff said, looks like he’s not pemabanned buy the pic he posted maybe he can sort something out,
Just a temp ban. I got a week ban for saying I didn’t like CR123 batteries because they are expensive and hard to find. I got my ban from DM51 who I think may have quit or left the site now. They do hand out bans for little to no reason over there.
That was why I found this site. It was not because I couldn’t post over there but because the tone and mods were making it a crappy place to spend my time.
He’s not clutching at straws, he’s describing the very real situation with regards to vehicle use. The department of transport does not make laws, they make guidelines, they cannot determine if something is illegal until it is tried in court, then it is down to the judge to decide one way or the other.
Hence my point about a-frames, the guidelines are so topsy turvey, the best advice is not using them, not because they ARE illegal but because proving one way or the other is such a can of worms. The DOT though, cannot do anything one way or the other to tell you yes or no, they can only say “these are the guidelines”, they won’t interpret them, they won’t advise one way or the other. The only way is to take the risk of ending up on court. Or, not taking the risk in the first place.
As chicken drumstick points out, head light bulbs should be 55w yet my 100w bulbs passed mot two weeks ago without comment.
I had to comment on this, I work for an automotive OEM, and recently received this from the SMMT:
==
Regulatory Advisory No. 4213 Final Amendment of UN ECE R 99 Gas- Discharge Light Sources
Subject: New Category D5S, D6S and D8S (Optional)
Executive Summary: This is a final Rule. The amendment of UN ECE R99 introduces the requirements for gas-discharge light sources with an objective luminous flux not exceeding 2,000 lumen. Headlamps equipped with such light sources do not have to have a mandatory automatic levelling device and also no mandatory cleaning device. Approvals for UN ECE R99 are obtained by the supplier. The enforcement date for this amendment was July 26, 2012. A CR will not be issued for this regulation.
This clarifies the levelling and cleaning requirements.
On what basis am I clutching at straws? This is a complex area that currently has little or no precedent. If you believe it’s so dry cut then I challenge you to provide indisputable proof.
That aside.
Removing the “topic” from the conversation. The point of this thread was a moderator was playing judge/jury or God. As in their word was final, no debate, not even the ability to discuss it on a “discussion board”. And the banning was due to a PM not something posted in the forum.
On this basis it would appear that CPF moderators actually think they write laws for the UK and will remove anyone who doesn’t agree - over moderation IMO.
Until proven in a court of law HIDs are not illegal - and as stated even the DfT would be happy with aftermarket kits in approved housings with self leveling abilities.
