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Police remind drivers not to dress their cars in Christmas lights

Police warn drivers to avoid social media trends that could result in a charge under the Highway Traffic Act
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A photo posted on Reddit.com shows a police cruiser pulling over a car dressed in lights

Police are warning drivers not to get too carried away with the spirit of the season and popular social media trend that has some drivers covering their vehicles in Christmas lights.

Every year, social media posts feature photos and videos of cars dressed up like Christmas trees, but this could result in a serious charge in violation of the Highway Traffic Act (HTA), says Waterloo Regional Police Service. 

"Recently, there has been a social media trend of vehicles covered with Christmas lights.  While we appreciate the holiday spirit, these lights present a potential safety hazard on the road," WRPS wrote in a recent post on X. 

According to The Highway Traffic Act, motor vehicles are only allowed to display a white or amber light at the front of the vehicle and a red light at the rear. There are some exceptions for emergency vehicles and snowplows that allow for different coloured lights from the vehicle.

"These regulations prevent confusion for motorists approaching these emergency vehicles."