Define Excessive Use of Horn

[MKUltra]

The CVC states:

27001. (a) The driver of a motor vehicle when reasonably necessary to insure safe operation shall give audible warning with his horn.

(b) The horn shall not otherwise be used, except as a theft alarm system which operates as specified in Article 13 (commencing with Section 28085) of this chapter.

Amended Ch. 993, Stats. 1977. Effective January 1, 1978.


The code does not state what "excessive" means. What do you guys go by... number of times the horn was used or the length of time it was used. If it was length, than how many seconds do you consider excessive?

[alex00]

Just like the code states, any use other than an audible warning. Honking at a friend, honking in anger, honking with the beat of the music are all 'excessive'. There is no black and white answer. I think I wrote this section once, but I can't remember what the person did.

[Samuelx]

Depends. All else being equal, once the purpose for sounding the horn has been accomplished (i.e. attention has been gotten), there should be no further reason to keep sounding it... reasonable is the key word...

[masameet]

I swear this same question was asked on BARF recently.

About 10 or more years ago a driver was cited for honking her horn. I think she honked in protest -- maybe the scenario was she saw a friend had been pulled over and was getting ticketed. The citing officer pulled her over and cited her for excessive use of the horn. She fought the case and lost. She appealed to a higher court and lost there too, I believe.

Not sure, but I think this incident took place in Clayton, CA. I remember reading it in the local news and hearing it discussed on the local radio talk shows, because it seemed a pretty petty ticket to get and lose in court.

[halifax]

One instance I can cite: my neighbor's ride to work comes by every weekday around 6 AM and honks. If my neighbor doesn't respond right away he will continue the honking periodically. Lazy inconsiderate idiot.

I would think no more than is necessary to avoid a dangerous situation.

[Ron-Solo]

One instance I can cite: my neighbor's ride to work comes by every weekday around 6 AM and honks. If my neighbor doesn't respond right away he will continue the honking periodically. Lazy inconsiderate idiot.

This is excessive and unnecessary

I would think no more than is necessary to avoid a dangerous situation.

This is reasonable

Reasonableness is the key. The horn was intended to be used as a warning device, not as a means of communication or anger.

[VictorFranko]

The horn was intended to be used as a warning device, not as a means of communication

I travel to Vietnam. Over there, horns are used for communication. Your first time or two in country, the horn honking is truly overwhelming. After a while you don't even notice, it's kind of funny. (non-LEO interjecting, hope you don't mind)

[lugar]

The purpose of a horn is to startle. Startling other drivers or pedestrians can be dangerous and should only be for the purpose of making someone snap to the possibility of impending danger. Or, if you're in NYC it means the traffic light is about to turn green.

[retired]

Please stay on topic. Thanks.

[oddjob]

I once took a call of a car horn going for about 5 minutes. A DUI driver passed out with his head on the horn. I did cite him for the horn too (it was part of the probable cause).

I don't know of any cop citing anyone for it....But folks were stopped for it. Its like a tail light out. I rarely wrote a ticket for it....But I stopped a bus load for it.

[Notorious]

The way it was explained in the academy was that the horn was to be used as an emergency warning device and nothing else, e.g. to warn another driver that is coming into your lane and striking your vehicle.

To use the horn to make people move at an intersection when the light turns green or to honk to let your buddy know to come outside would not be within the legal use of the horn as defined in the CVC.