South Carolina: Is it legal to put a train horn on a car?
South Carolina has no express train-horn ban, but no horn may make an unreasonably loud or harsh sound or whistle.
South Carolina requires a horn audible from 200 feet but bars any horn or warning device from emitting an unreasonably loud or harsh sound or whistle, which a typical train horn likely fails. Only authorized emergency vehicles may carry a siren, whistle or bell. Drivers may sound a horn only when reasonably needed for safety.
Conditions
- Horn may not emit an unreasonably loud or harsh sound or whistle
- No siren, whistle or bell on non-emergency vehicles
- Horn use only when reasonably necessary for safe operation
What the law says
Every 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 two hundred feet, but no horn or other warning device shall emit an unreasonably loud or harsh sound or whistle. No vehicle other than an authorized emergency vehicle shall be equipped with nor shall any person use upon any such vehicle any siren, whistle or bell.
Sources
- S.C. Code § 56-5-4950 Official · scstatehouse.gov
- S.C. Code § 56-5-4960 (use of horn) Official · scstatehouse.gov
Confirm with the state
- Agency
- South Carolina Highway Patrol
- Phone
- (803) 896-7920
- Website
- scdps.sc.gov
How bordering states compare
- Georgia Allowed with limitsGeorgia has no train horn ban, but no horn may make an unreasonably loud or harsh sound or a whistle.
- North Carolina Allowed with limitsNorth Carolina has no express train-horn ban, but making unreasonably loud or harsh sounds with a horn is illegal.
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