Has anyone been put in prison for illegal private lighting installations such as a fluorescent light fixture that uses HID ballasts to drive the lamps?

Has anyone been put in prison for illegal private lighting installations such as a fluorescent light fixture that uses HID ballasts to drive the lamps?

I mean, I don't think the FBI is going to come bust down your door for lighting hackjobs but what do I know...

There are building codes any owner has to follow.
And the lease agreement would for surecontain a clause passing some part of that on you (at least the requirement not allowing you to actively do anything against that code).
There are differences, how this gets enforced.
Some jurisdictions require periodic inspections by a licensed inspector.
Often the insurance plans have a clause mandating you to maintain the thi gcode compliant. And this is very easy for them to use when not wanting to pay you damages when something happens. It even does not have to be related - their ground is,if you intentionally violate the code (what is seen as equal to creating a risk) on one aspect, it was most likely the case of other aspects (neglecting maintenance) too even when it can not be directly proven.
And same goes when someone gets hurt in that accident, but this time it becomes a criminal thing.

Is it really that bad in the US?, I know here I could easily fit a 125watt MV to my house, (using parts and lamps I already have), and put it into full time service, and no one would bat an eyelid?

I don't see that problem here, I've seen many dodgy LED retrofitting and dodgy wiring, and those can last for a lot of time, until the owner changes it by his own choice, and not by a code probably. I've seen many lighting hacks in big shopping malls too.

I recommend you to check your country's code, most of them are available online.

Ok great example

  I notice Texas slightly different from
  Rest  of the US.   Here our service disconnect have be located right next to the electric meter
 In visable site.

  While Ive seen other parts of the US just there riser and electric meter on the wall.  Then breaker panel is just on the
  Otherside the wall behind the meter box
   What get me is when somthing happens and your Breaker box not as ready ascessable and u have go though basement
  When things go wrong.

    The worse they when u have inspection,  they can fail u
And you simply womt be connected to any untily and they will
 Give u a chance to correct the problem to become compliance
With the codes.   This why electricians and plumbers have to get permits then they hand u paper that u need to comply to the permit accordingly in order to pass inspection. 

  Out here Where My utilty company ask me what knda service I  want and  and how it set up.   

1   One was though roof riser pipe
2   Putting riser on side of house
3   Installing riser on the pole
4   Underground feed



 I chose 3 putting my meter and main disconnect on the pole
 Then they hand u paper and detail drawing that tells u what
  I need to do for utilty to hook up to my meter.

   I am not license electrician but I fallowed what exactly how they want me to set up my pole and how meter and breaker panel installed.   

   I had get 4 feet of hole drilled into ground That cost me 150
  Buck to get hole done.
   Then i went supply house get my 2 joints on 10 foot  4 inch ridgid pipe.  Install the pipe.  Then I install my 200 amp meter socket and Breaker panel on that metal pole and used PVC riser pipe  ( most jurisiction dont allow this PVC riser) 
  When all this installed and set up my electric company inspect the pole then they hooked it up and bang in my meter. 

 Now San Antonio they have  Code compliance amd they do
Enforce the codes and u have to pull permits.  U have to abide by the permits and regulation.   A homeowner building there own house can do the work but if any thing not passed
They wont allow u to hook up,  and must be corrected. 

  Reason we have License electicains as they know the NEC
  Do things according to NEC.  And they know how to pull permits to do the job that some one wants done

   And where i live at there no we dont have much of a building inspector,   But my county all they cares about the most is plumbing inspection and steptic tank install inspection that took
Several inspection.

 I have no home electrical inspection.   I still do things by code
 But i did things like 240 volt wiring for fluorescent lights
  And discharge wiring.   And 240 volt lamp sockets with true 240 volt though a 240/480 volt transformer.  If i ever sell this house I would have to make some changes as there inspection
Reports when u buying a home and u dont want bad inspection reports.

   

   

Could I also be incarcerated for simply using a European light bulb in a permanent lighting installation in a private residence?

Please keep questions sensible; no-one is going to lock you up for putting the "wrong" lamp in a fixture, certainly not in your own home. Why would you even think this..?

I was thinking about the possibility of being incarcerated due to failed building inspection.

If you fail a building inspection, you won't get jailed for that. They'll most likely tell you what you did wrong and tell you to fix it.

You won't be incarcerated over doing experiments with lamps. The only trouble you'd face is if you were the cause of burning down building and causing harm or loss to lives.

Check your local codes and the worse that can happen in the code world is being forced to rectify your buildings issues before you can live in it.

I used to work on video recorders and similar equipment in people's houses a few years ago. If I found something possibly dangerous, all I could do is advise the user not to use it and slap one of these stickers on it. I had no power to compel them to do anything.

The only illegal lighting installations I know of that could lead to jail time are those being used to grow certain kinds of plants.  Even purchasing lamps that don't meet efficiency regulations is unlikely to result in any penalties, and if it did, it's more likely the supplier would be the party fined.

 Yes Esp when weed farm grower get there power from next door  or tapping intto utilty to power there lighting
  Will get them busted very quickly.

   With all smart metering going on
  They will track this easly with all
 KWH used at substation and all the KWH use in homes
 And shops.   My circuit from substation
  Is residental service and very easy to
Track down where this power is going
  Now these people do a electric meter
 Swaparoo meaning some one else get stuck
With a very high bill the weed grower pays  for some
One low power useage.