St George could cost you a pretty penny if you’re not careful.
One of the true signs of an international tournament taking place is the England flags that crop up all over the country. Hanging outside windows, painted on faces, on bunting in supermarkets and, of course, attached to cars.
However, it turns out that you need to be wary if you’re going to attach a flag of any type to your motor, as you could be hit with a £1,000 fine.
According to the ‘Ask The Police’ website, which was created by the PNLD (Police National Legal Database) – a national organisation governed by West Yorkshire Police – there are some things you need to consider before putting a St George on your car.
Most important of all is that the flag doesn’t obstruct your vision or that of other drivers. It also needs to be securely fixed, because if it flies off and potentially causes damage or injury then you could be in big trouble.
The website says: “So although there is not a specific offence, you could commit an offence by having a flag on your car.”
“It is the officer’s discretion whether or not to take matters further if he/she feels that an offence has been committed.”
Breaking any of these rules could lead to a £1,000 fine for “failure to have proper control of vehicle or full view of the road and traffic ahead”, as per the Highway Code.
So maybe just don’t bother? I hate to break it to you, but hanging an off-white St George’s flag out of your Kia isn’t going to be the crucial factor in whether it’s coming home or not.
