New Mexico: Is it legal to put a train horn on a car?
New Mexico has no express train-horn ban, but every horn must make a harmonious sound, and sirens, whistles and bells are banned.
New Mexico's horn law does not mention air or train horns. It requires any horn or warning device to produce a "harmonious" sound, which a blaring multi-tone train horn may not meet, though no state source says so directly. A separate rule bars sirens, whistles and bells except where the section allows them, mainly on emergency vehicles. Drivers may sound a horn only when reasonably needed for safety.
Conditions
- Horn must produce a harmonious sound
- No siren, whistle or bell on non-emergency vehicles
- Horn use only when reasonably necessary for safe operation
What the law says
... but no horn or other warning device shall be used which does not produce a harmonious sound. ... No vehicle shall be equipped with nor shall any person use upon a vehicle any siren, whistle or bell ...
Sources
- NMSA 1978 § 66-3-843 (FindLaw copy) Mirror of official text · codes.findlaw.com
Confirm with the state
- Agency
- New Mexico State Police
- Phone
- (833) 667-7669
- Website
- dps.nm.gov
How bordering states compare
- Arizona Allowed with limitsArizona has no train horn ban, but no horn may make an unreasonably loud or harsh sound or a whistle.
- 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.
- Oklahoma Allowed with limitsOklahoma has no express train-horn ban, but no horn or warning device may emit an unreasonably loud or harsh sound.
- Texas Allowed with limitsTexas bans sirens, whistles and bells on ordinary vehicles, and says no horn may make an unreasonably loud or harsh sound.
- 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.
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