Do you get nicked if you use a dark tinted visor in england ??

[chaparral02]

If I took my bike to England would I get nicked if I used my darked tinted visor ?

[Phil]

I've used one for years and never been stopped. Always keep a clear one with you.

[Exupnut]

As above. Use the clear visor u keep with u when light gets low cos if u use a dark visor at night ur askin fer a pull. (If the visor is down)

[Grahamm]

There's some good advice here

[stevierst]

Pretty much any cop stopping you for a dark visor will immediately ask if you have a clear one with you.
If you have one with you, he will almost certainly let you on your way. That is unless your using it at night. :

Stop polishing it and ride the bloody thing!

[chr999chr]

Is there an actual law regarding dark visors?

[Punkstig]

Not any more, if its day light then dark visors are completely legal, this changed as recently as 2/3 years ago.
You don't need to be carrying a clear visor unless of course you are out in the evening and get caught out as it gets dark.

[sadlonelygit]

the answer is yes. on the side of the visor it will say 'race use only' or 'daytime use only' or 'complies with ZA rating' etc.
if your visor is 60% or more tinted (not overall you prats, by light transmission) then it IS illegal.
iirc, daytime use means if the streetlights are on, it's not daytime anymore.
however it all depends on the mood of the attending officer, and if you have an incident in poor light with a darkie on, prepare to reap the whirlwind!
SLG, complete with blacked out arai..........cos i's well cool!

[VNA - BMW Wank]

As far as I am aware it's one law for the UK.

I use a legal tinted visor, they have always been available, so I can't get nicked.

I also found that unlike in the car my reaction lens glasses work under the visor, in fact the visor holds em back a bit and they work just nice during the summer months.  Unlike in general use were all summer they just go super dark as soon as you step out doors no matter what the weather and simply refuse to do anything all winter even when the sun comes out.  Finally found a use for em.

[Hedgetrimmer]

I thought it was 30% max tint, anything over illegal? Also, isn't it still illegal to sell dark tint visors, that's what most bike shops seem to think?

[mickvp]

I thought it was 30% max tint, anything over illegal? Also, isn't it still illegal to sell dark tint visors, that's what most bike shops seem to think?

That's what I thought as well, I thought it was the same as front car windows in that 70% of light must pass through them to be legal. I know this I certainly the case for cars, but have just assumed the same laws applied to motorcycles as well?

[Punkstig]

The whole thing was 'decriminalised' so to speak a couple of years ago.
Lets go back to the topic question-
Under no circumstances will you be nicked for wearing a dark visor in bright sunny daylight, no matter how black it is!


Part of the original argument was the fact that legally you could wear as dark a tint sunglasses as you wished, but as far as safety was concerned what happens if you go through a big dark tunnel, a visor can just be lifted bringing back normal vision, whereas sunglasses can't making it dangerous in dark conditions!


Ride at night with a black visor and quite simply you're asking for trouble


Although that never stopped me! 

[Davebo]

...or get a shiny helmet with an internal sun visor like my excellent Shark Speed R.

Simples.

 

[locksmith]

Theres conflicting answers here isn't there.

I had a look on the gov website and all I could find was a line about visors (if worn) should have either a BS mark or euro equivilent.

So whats the right answer to the question I wonder?

[Exupnut]

The answers conflict due to what coppers choose to enforce. U get forgiving coppers ( prob bike owners) and jobsworth's who enforce everything to the letter. And also it will change from county to county. For instance....flip lids r given their rating with the helmet shut. So it is illeagal to ride with it open. In london it isnt enforced AT ALL. wheras in gloucester every time a copper sees me i'm stopped although only warned so far. ( 5 times)

[Punkstig]

Exactly my point, police were told not to enforce if its a sunny day!

[sadlonelygit]

The whole thing was 'decriminalised' so to speak a couple of years ago.
Lets go back to the topic question-
Under no circumstances will you be nicked for wearing a dark visor in bright sunny daylight, no matter how black it is!

the law states:
if fitted a visor MUST be kitemarked with a ZA rating or the european ece 22.05 equivalent. it MUST allow 50% light transfer.
failure to comply will result in a FPN.

that is the law, how a police officer decides to implement it is up to him.

just as a footnote, the risk of retinal damage is far higher when using a fully black visor (unless it's a genuine arai/shoei) as there are no UV filters on them and the pupil is more dilated due to 'less' light hitting the retina.

[Grahamm]

just as a footnote, the risk of retinal damage is far higher when using a fully black visor (unless it's a genuine arai/shoei) as there are no UV filters on them and the pupil is more dilated due to 'less' light hitting the retina.

A good point.

I much prefer to use a pair of sunglasses under the visor, I don't have to carry a spare visor for if it gets dark and they give UV protection.

Add a couple of strips of Electrical Tape across the top of the visor for a sun-screen and you're sorted.

[locksmith]

Or my Schuberth with a flip down internal visor !

[Punkstig]

ACPO NATIONAL MOTORCYCLE ENFORCEMENT STRATEGY2.3.7   Tinted visors 2.3.7.1   If tinted visors are used during daylight hours, advice only; if used during the hours of darkness or conditions of reduced visibility, consider prosecution using ‘Tintman’ equipment where available.2.3.7.2   It is acknowledged that there is much debate about this issue and many variables and anomalies can be applied. Therefore a pragmatic approach is necessary and only in cases where there is an obvious danger should prosecution be considered.

[Punkstig]

That's not me doing the bold letters btw, just copied and pasted!

[sadlonelygit]

ACPO NATIONAL MOTORCYCLE ENFORCEMENT STRATEGY2.3.7   Tinted visors 2.3.7.1   If tinted visors are used during daylight hours, advice only; if used during the hours of darkness or conditions of reduced visibility, consider prosecution using ‘Tintman’ equipment where available.2.3.7.2   It is acknowledged that there is much debate about this issue and many variables and anomalies can be applied. Therefore a pragmatic approach is necessary and only in cases where there is an obvious danger should prosecution be considered.

so what you're saying there is that dark visors are illegal!

[Punkstig]

'Advice only'
If you have been stopped ACPO states the officer is to have a word with you only, therefore a police officer will not nick you for it!

[sadlonelygit]

ACPO NATIONAL MOTORCYCLE ENFORCEMENT STRATEGY2.3.7   Tinted visors 2.3.7.1   If tinted visors are used during daylight hours, advice only; if used during the hours of darkness or conditions of reduced visibility, consider prosecution using ‘Tintman’ equipment where available.2.3.7.2   It is acknowledged that there is much debate about this issue and many variables and anomalies can be applied. Therefore a pragmatic approach is necessary and only in cases where there is an obvious danger should prosecution be considered.

i've been nice so far, but it seems like you're a foccin idiot.
they're fuckin illegal...................end of!
what a copper does to you if they catch you wearing one is the only variable here, you have presented the ACPO guidelines that say 'they're illegal and we can/will/should prosecute' but you're too thick to see it.
lift your visor up and smell the coffee!

[Punkstig]

I'll stay polite-
Not once have I questioned the legality- the question is will you get nicked, the answer since 2008 is no if in daylight, simple as! The fact I had to point out that they will only advise you shows you're not reading it!
And I have been stopped several times, and every time it's the same, they will not nick you in daylight, end of!