Wisconsin: Is it legal to put a train horn on a car?
Wisconsin bans sirens and compression or exhaust whistles, and forbids unreasonably loud or harsh horn sounds, but does not name air horns.
A car must have a working horn that can be heard from 200 feet. The law bans sirens and compression or exhaust whistles on ordinary vehicles, and says no one may make an unnecessary or unreasonably loud or harsh sound with a horn. Train horns aren't named, but sounding one on the road very likely breaks the loud-or-harsh rule.
Conditions
- Horn must be audible from at least 200 feet
- No siren or compression or exhaust whistle
- No unreasonably loud or harsh horn sound
- Horn may be used only as a reasonable warning
What the law says
(1) No person shall operate a motor vehicle upon a highway unless such motor vehicle is 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 person shall at any time use a horn otherwise than as a reasonable warning or make any unnecessary or unreasonably loud or harsh sound by means of a horn or other warning device. (2) Except as otherwise provided in this section, no vehicle shall be equipped with nor shall any person use upon a vehicle any siren or compression or exhaust whistle.
Sources
- Wis. Stat. § 347.38 Official · docs.legis.wisconsin.gov
- Wis. Admin. Code Trans 305.25 Official · docs.legis.wisconsin.gov
Confirm with the state
- Agency
- Wisconsin State Patrol
- Phone
- 1-844-847-1234
- Website
- wisconsindot.gov
How bordering states compare
- Illinois Allowed with limitsIllinois bans horns that make an unreasonably loud or harsh sound or a whistle, which a typical train horn likely fails.
- Iowa Allowed with limitsIowa bans horns that make an unreasonably loud or harsh sound or a whistle, which a typical train horn likely fails.
- Michigan Allowed with limitsMichigan bars any horn from making an unreasonably loud or harsh sound or a whistle, which a train horn likely breaks.
- Minnesota Allowed with limitsMinnesota bars horns that are unreasonably loud or harsh or that whistle, and only emergency vehicles may carry sirens, whistles or bells.