TikTok-trending Christmas car pulled over by police 'Grinches' in North Wales

Decorating cars with Christmas fairy lights has been trending in the run-up to this year’s festivities. But after a week in which Google searches for “Christmas cars” spiked by 25%, police in North Wales have taken a dim view of the practice.

Scores of TikTok videos provide tutorials on how to turn cars into “sleighs” by wrapping them in thousands of Christmas lights using little more than masking tape. While no specific laws prohibit the practice, experts have warned drivers risk hefty fines and having their insurance invalidated.

In Wrexham, North Wales Police (NWP) pulled over a newly converted VW car on Friday, November 29. Instead of embracing the driver’s festive spirit, traffic officers went all Scrooge and told him to remove his lights.

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“We had to be a bit of a Grinch when we spoke with this driver,” said the NWP Roads Policing Unit. “Kindly asking him to remove the few hours work he spent decorating his vehicle. It causes distractions to other road users, it could cause injury to other road users and worst of all they were stuck on with Sellotape!"

The traffic team added: "Strong words of advice to this driver on this occasion. We advise that you keep your Christmas tree lights on your Christmas tree and not on your car.”

One viral TikTok video of a Christmas car has so far attracted 24.5 million views and the idea is catching on. However the legality of adding festive lights depends on how they are used.

Graham Conway, managing director at UK lease firm Select Car Leasing, said adding LED lights comes under cosmetic modifications, which include things like tinted windscreens, custom paintwork and wheel accessories. The North Wales Live Whatsapp community for top stories and breaking news is live now - here’s how to sign up

But fairy lights are more problematic. Mr Conway said that, unless your car is an emergency vehicle, it is illegal to drive with extra blue or red lights. Vehicles displaying these colours can be stopped by the police and their drivers given either a warning or a penalty.

Moreover, bright or flashing lights can distract other drivers or pedestrians. Adding them to you car may breach vehicle lighting regulations or even be considered an act of careless or dangerous driving.

Mr Conway added: “For safety and to avoid penalties, it is strongly advised to refrain from putting fairy lights on your car altogether. While it may be acceptable to use them when the car is parked at home and pose no risk to other road users, it is best to avoid their use entirely to prevent any potential harm or issues they may cause.”

Wrexham’s police Grinches have since come in for some gentle online ribbing online. Some users have wondered if they’ll next be targeting the light-festooned Coca-Cola Christmas Truck as it starts its 2024 UK tour.

“Where’s your Christmas spirit?” asked one man, adding: “But I do agree it’s dangerous and looks awful.” A woman agreed it was “stupid” but insisted Christmas cars looked “pretty, lol”. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox

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