Idaho: Is it legal to put a train horn on a car?
Idaho bans horns that make an unreasonably loud or harsh sound or a whistle, which a typical train horn likely fails.
Idaho law requires a working horn audible from at least 200 feet, but no horn may emit an unreasonably loud or harsh sound or whistle. A separate rule bars sirens, whistles, and bells except on emergency vehicles. The law does not name air or train horns, but a horn built to sound like a locomotive is likely to be treated as unreasonably loud. Drivers may sound the horn only when reasonably necessary for safety.
Conditions
- Horn may not be unreasonably loud or harsh
- No siren, whistle, or bell on non-emergency vehicles
- Horn use only when reasonably necessary for safety
What the law says
but no horn or other warning device shall emit an unreasonably loud or harsh sound or whistle. ... No vehicle shall be equipped with nor shall any person use upon a vehicle any siren, whistle, or bell, except as otherwise permitted in this section.
Sources
- Idaho Code § 49-956 Official · legislature.idaho.gov
Confirm with the state
- Agency
- Idaho State Police
- Phone
- 208-884-7200
- Website
- isp.idaho.gov
How bordering states compare
- Montana Allowed with limitsMontana bars any horn from making an unreasonably loud or harsh sound or a whistle, which a train horn likely breaks.
- Nevada Allowed with limitsNevada bars any horn from making an unreasonably loud or harsh sound or a whistle, which a train horn likely breaks.
- Oregon Allowed with limitsOregon has no express train-horn ban, but unreasonably loud or harsh horn sounds are illegal, and bells, sirens and certain whistles are banned.
- Utah Allowed with limitsUtah says no horn may make an unreasonably loud or harsh sound or a whistle, and bans sirens, whistles and bells on ordinary vehicles.
- Washington Allowed with limitsWashington says no horn may make an unreasonably loud or harsh sound or a whistle, and bans sirens, whistles and bells on ordinary vehicles.
- Wyoming Allowed with limitsWyoming says no horn may make an unreasonably loud or harsh sound or a whistle, and bans sirens, whistles and bells on ordinary vehicles.