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When is it illegal to honk your horn?

I live in a small town, and I like to honk and wave when I see people I know. However, my friend told me that while no one cares in my town, it’s illegal to honk like that elsewhere. Is that true? Is it illegal to honk your horn?

avatar
Eric Schad · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Small, friendly towns, aside, it is illegal to honk your horn in any fashion not related to the safety of you or other motorists. However, most law enforcement officers will rarely enforce this law, especially if you aren’t honking in a malicious manner.
With that said, you can still get a
ticket
for honking excessively, especially in a manner that promotes road rage. In New York City, fines can go as high as $350 for excessive honking.
As a way to avoid any tickets, refrain from road rage, and generally stay safe, only honk the horn to alert other drivers, especially in cases where they’re going to hit your car. Some examples of when to use your horn might be:
  • A car backs up and is going to hit you.
  • Another motorist starts to veer into your lane.
  • Wildlife enters the roadway and you’re trying to scare it away.
Instead of honking your horn at friends to say hello, why not do them a favor by helping them save money with the
Jerry
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Jerry is a licensed insurance broker that will collect quotes on your behalf from over 50 top-rated insurers in minutes. After you find a great rate, Jerry can help you buy new insurance and cancel your old policy. Users save an average of $887 per year.
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