Nebraska: Is it legal to put a train horn on a car?
Nebraska bans sirens and exhaust whistles on vehicles and bars unnecessary or unreasonably loud or harsh horn use, which likely covers train horns.
Every car needs a horn audible from 200 feet. Sirens and exhaust, compression or spark plug whistles are banned except on emergency vehicles. Using any horn other than as a reasonable warning, or making an unnecessary or unreasonably loud or harsh sound with it, is illegal. Air horns aren't named, so this is not an express ban, but sounding a typical train horn likely breaks the loudness rule.
Conditions
- Horn may be used only as a reasonable warning
- No unnecessary or unreasonably loud or harsh sound from a horn
What the law says
Every motor vehicle when operated upon a highway shall be equipped with a horn in good working order capable of emitting sound audible under normal conditions from a distance of not less than two hundred feet. Except as otherwise provided in this section, it shall be unlawful for any vehicle to be equipped with or for any person to use upon a vehicle any siren, exhaust, compression, or spark plug whistle or for any person at any time to use a horn, otherwise than as a reasonable warning, or to make any unnecessary or unreasonably loud or harsh sound by means of a horn or other warning device.
Sources
- Neb. Rev. Stat. § 60-6,285 Official · nebraskalegislature.gov
Confirm with the state
- Agency
- Nebraska State Patrol
- Phone
- 402-471-4545
- Website
- statepatrol.nebraska.gov
How bordering states compare
- Colorado Allowed with limitsColorado has no named train horn ban, but horns may not be unreasonably loud or harsh, and extra audible devices are barred.
- Iowa Allowed with limitsIowa bans horns that make an unreasonably loud or harsh sound or a whistle, which a typical train horn likely fails.
- Kansas Allowed with limitsKansas bans horns that make an unreasonably loud or harsh sound or whistle, which a typical train horn likely fails.
- Missouri Allowed with limitsMissouri allows a horn or whistle but bars unnecessary noise and any other sound-producing signaling device, which may cover an added train horn.
- South Dakota Allowed with limitsSouth Dakota bans exhaust horns, sirens and harsh whistles, and forbids unreasonably loud or harsh horn sounds, but does not name air horns.
- 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.