Police say Christmas lights draped over vehicles ‘a potential safety hazard’

Waterloo Regional Police don’t want to be a Grinch, but they do want people to not drive around in a vehicle covered from one end to the other with glowing Christmas lights.

Police put out a cautionary message on social media, Monday afternoon, about what they call “a social media trend of vehicles covered with Christmas lights.”

Pictures and videos are going viral about a car recently spotted in Waterloo completely covered in such lights.

Police say, “While we appreciate the holiday spirit, these lights present a potential safety hazard on the road.”

They remind all drivers that there are legal restrictions about what lights can be displayed on a moving vehicle.

Specifically: only a white or amber light on the front of the vehicle, and a red light on the back.

They say the only exceptions are for emergency vehicles and snowplows.

Police say the regulations laid out in the Highway Traffic Act “prevent confusion for motorists approaching these emergency vehicles.”