Can I put an air horn on my car?

[DarkNinja75]

I looked it up and all that I found was:

"An authorized emergency vehicle may be equipped with, and use in conjunction with the siren on that vehicle, an air horn that emits sounds that do not comply with the requirements of this section."

That doesn't say that other vehicles can't have one (so long as it isn't "unreasonably loud or harsh"). I've found one that's "twice as loud as stock". So is it legal?

[hitman5532]

it says an emergency vehivle is exempt from the standard rules... you need to look at the standard rules

[hitman5532]

27000. (a) A motor vehicle, when operated upon a highway, shall be
equipped with a horn in good working order and capable of emitting
sound audible under normal conditions from a distance of not less
than 200 feet, but no horn shall emit an unreasonably loud or harsh
sound. An authorized emergency vehicle may be equipped with, and use
in conjunction with the siren on that vehicle, an air horn that emits
sounds that do not comply with the requirements of this section.

[USARMworker]

I think that implies that an air horn may not be used on a non-emergency vehicle.

I'd say, go for it and don't get caught. But I'm no LEO, I'm just a citizen. :dunno

..

[B-Cuz]

27000. (a) A motor vehicle, when operated upon a highway, shall be
equipped with a horn in good working order and capable of emitting
sound audible under normal conditions from a distance of not less
than 200 feet, but no horn shall emit an unreasonably loud or harsh
sound. An authorized emergency vehicle may be equipped with, and use
in conjunction with the siren on that vehicle, an air horn that emits
sounds that do not comply with the requirements of this section.

As I read it, that means "no".:twofinger

[motorman4life]

So long as it does not emit an unreasonably loud or harsh sound, you should be okay. If you are making little old ladies fill their Depends.. well, that may be considered unreasonably loud or harsh.

I installed a set of "Howard's Horns" (http://www.howardshorns.com) on my Dodge truck some years ago.. if you are staring at them with the hood up when they spark off, you will certainly jump.. maybe even lose your breath. :teeth But, in traffic, with the hood down, they aren't any louder then the air horns on a big rig. [LISTEN] (http://www.howardshorns.com/dual.wav)

I say, fuck it. Go for it. Louder is safer in my book. Just try not to startle the small children and farm animals. :laughing

[DarkNinja75]

I say, fuck it. Go for it.

Good to hear since I'm actually asking after the fact :teeth

Installed one a few days ago after almost getting creamed on the freeway. The guy in the truck next to me quite obviously didn't hear my stock horn. The air horn isn't crazy loud, it's just more noticeable.

[motorman4life]

Use the force wisely, young Jedi. ;)

[2nsane]

So every big rig out there with air horns are emergency vehicles:laughing

[CnDnMax]

So every big rig out there with air horns are emergency vehicles:laughing
idk about you but if a big rig is coming up behind me blowing its air horn im moving to the right as fast as i can :laughing

[JPM]

http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=218258&highlight=loud+horn

[T-1 Thunder]

I had a huge, heavy, LOUD air siren on my old 4x4. It was so damn loud, I'm 100% sure it must have been illegal.

But I never used it. I put it on just in case we ever needed help off in the back country. Thankfully, our wits always got us out.

But if needed to help ourselves - the ticket would have been worth it in an emergency.

Don't go blowing that thing on the freeway. Scare a biker and make him fall off would be bad.

[T-1 Thunder]

So every big rig out there with air horns are emergency vehicles:laughing

Maybe he was talking about an air siren, like the one I had?

Air horns are no big deal. Got one on my truck now, and it's not really that loud.

[ateamer]

Amplified sound does not refer to a horn. It refers to sound that is, oddly enough, amplified. The sound from a horn is at its natural volume.