Horn honking 'illegal' in Seattle

[Schmear]

Too bad "Almost Live" isn't around anymore, they could do a Ballard School of Driving skit on this.

From http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/htm...bumper16m.html

Q: Here's one worth giving a toot about: The other day Mark Cruz, of Renton, was waiting to turn left at a green light in downtown Seattle. The car in front of him was sitting under the light, turn signal blinking, but had not budged even though all oncoming traffic had passed.

Cruz honked his horn to urge the driver to move. "Then I was pulled over by a Seattle police officer on a motorcycle. He let me off on a warning for honking at the car in front of me.

"Dumbfounded, I said, 'Of course I was.' What am I supposed to do when someone just sits there at a green light?

"He then told me that use of your horn is only for emergencies."

Only in Seattle? "This seems so far-fetched. I have a hard time believing it," said Cruz. In Southern California, where he grew up, honking horns weren't unusual. And he's lived in other places, including back East, before moving to this state about a decade ago. He'd never heard of a horn rule.

"I have always used my horn with regularity," he said, assuming his horn to be as indispensable as his turn signal and headlights.

What should a driver do when the car up ahead won't move? "Can you please tell me what the law in Washington is on the use of your horn?"

A: While it's true that drivers in the Northwest pride themselves on being more genteel than in some other parts of the country, it's also true that this state has, shall we say, a horn rule.

The officer was not out of line, said State Patrol spokesman Bob Calkins. In fact, Trooper Kirk Rudeen, also of the Patrol, referenced a state statute (RCW 46.37.380) that says a horn should be used only when reasonably necessary. "Honking at the car in front of you to go because the light turned green is not considered proper use of the horn," said Rudeen.

So what to do? "What we tell people is unless it's an emergency situation, just be patient and polite," Rudeen said.

But Lowell Porter, former State Patrol chief and now director of the Washington Traffic Safety Commission, points out that what's considered reasonably necessary, or an emergency, could be a judgment call, subject to interpretation.

A horn might alert a distracted driver. Or it could incite road rage.

Should you get a ticket for honking, could you challenge it in court? Of course you could. But a court's view of horn honking here might not be the same as, say, in the heart of New York City, where many folks view honking as a way of life.

New York has a honking law similar to this state's. Is anyone paying attention? Maybe very few. "Probably 99 percent of the horn honking here is unnecessary, a way for motorists to vent their frustrations," said John Corlett, government-affairs director for AAA New York. From time to time, New York City police do crack down on noise violations, he said, "but I don't think the law deters anybody from honking their horn here."

[skibum193]

driving in seattle sucks bigtime now with traffic alone...now we got noise violations too!!

[Mudfoot]

You ought to try driving in Lima, Peru. If your horn doesn't work you can't drive the car in traffic.

[Viva]

I guess they're not very horny in Seattle. Must be the rain.

[Buster Highmen]

Almost Live was a show of sheer genius: Ballard Vice, Renton Vice, Sluggy.. when Ballard was a parade of cars with only blue hair and wrinkly knuckles showing on the steering wheel...

What happened to John Keister?

[IskiEC]

You ought to try driving in Lima, Peru. If your horn doesn't work you can't drive the car in traffic.

Or many parts of the world for that matter. Many motorists in foreign lands use their horn to announce their presence.

"Hey I'm about to enter this rotary, honk, honk, honk, watch out for me..."

[valleygirl]

I guess they're not very horny in Seattle. Must be the rain.

Does rain impede libido??? Hmmm... Denver's looking better & better w/300+ days of sunshine a year...

[The AD]

"Honking at the car in front of you to go because the light turned green is not considered proper use of the horn," said Rudeen.

So what to do? "What we tell people is unless it's an emergency situation, just be patient and polite," Rudeen said

Did he really say that with a straight face? That's ridiculous.

I suppose if you pull up at someone's house to pick them up you shouldn't honk your horn either. Instead you should just be polite and wait until they see you.

[RIGAFARI]

You don't want to move here anyway. It rains everyday and the snow sucks. Colorado is where its at. Just don't 4get your kavu visor and suby outback.

[powstash]

must have been a slow crime day in Seattle to be pulling over folks for honking horns.

[Sitzmark]

john keister was great... is almost live out on dvd?

[TeleHoar]

Go figure...

Apparently it is also illegal to drive up I-70 with your flashers on.
Same reason...for emergency use only.
Who knew??

[Mofro261]

Seattle-lites can be divided into 2 distinct groups, those who honk and those that refrain. As polite as I try to be, I'm a self-professed honky. Yes, I know that person you're talking on your cell phone to is much more important than me actually making it through this intersection, but I thought I'd let you know I'm still behind you here.


I am suggesting a guerrilla campaign to decorate as many police cars as possible with bumper stickers that say "HONK IF YOU LOVE COPS".

[dipstik]

Wow, thats pretty queer.

[Game Over]

Does rain impede libido???

i think rain improves it, aint much else to do.....

[Jer]

I suppose if you pull up at someone's house to pick them up you shouldn't honk your horn either.

Common courtesy suggests you should get out of your car and go knock on the door.
Instead of annoying all the neighbors with your illegal noisemaking (not just traffic rules - check noise ordinances.)
Just 'cause you're too damn lazy and self-centered to get off your fat ass.

A gentle honk is appropriate for the distracted driver who has been sitting at a green light for several seconds.

A loud, long blast is appropriate for the inconsiderate jackass sitting at a green light while blathering obliviously into his/her cell phone.

[TomK]

john keister was great... is almost live out on dvd?

There was a few VHS tapes put out, but nothing comprehensive or on DVD.

Almost Live repeats get shown every Satuday night/Sunday AM after Saturday Night Live oin Seattle's KING/Ch 5.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Almost_Live!

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Re the horn blowing, there's a big difference between "beep - hey, wake up" and HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOONK! - gett outta my way you!.

Mildly interesting that the article says nothing about what duration the horn was used during the incident before he got pulled over and warned.

[KQ]

Ppl in Chicago LOVE their horns - I think it is worse than Manhattan

[Buster Highmen]

Hey KQ, welcome back.

And for those too lazy to follow the wiki link, here's a few sketches of a really funny show:

>>>>
Some of the recurring sketches featured on Almost Live included:

"Bill Nye the Science Guy"
"Capable Woman" (super heroine who "rescues" men too "manly" to admit they can't do everything)
"Jet Guy" (parody of Republic Pictures' 1950s serial character, "Commando Cody")
"Me" ("talk show" hosted by egotistical woman who acts as if she is smarter than everyone else)
"Mind Your Manners with Billy Quan" (parody of Bruce Lee’s martial arts films)
"Nature Walk, with Chuck" (reckless alcoholic outdoors man and naïve young assistant)
Parody of Cops set in various Seattle neighborhoods
"Speed Walker" (super hero who fights crime while adhering to the standards of competitive speed-walking)
"The High-Five’n White Guys"
"Ineffectual Middle-Management Suck-ups"
"The John Report" [1990-95]/"The Late Report" [1995-end of run] (weekly news-parody, similar to Weekend Update)
"The Lame List (Or, "What’s Weak This Week)" (local members of "Seattle's heavy metal community", such as Kim Thayil of grunge band Soundgarden yelling "lame" to whatever topic the announcer would present). Also in a rotating schedule were Collin Matson, Brad Hull, and Tony Benjamin of local Seattle band Forced Entry as well as members of other local bands. When an especially difficult topic or question would arise, everyone would stare and go "Huh?" with blank stares until the announcer gave up and asked a more simple question to which everyone would yell "Lame" in understanding.
"Sluggy" (a parody of "Lassie" about a boy and his pet slug)
"The Survivalist" (paranoid man with program from his underground bunker)
"This Here House" (a parody of the show "This Old House")
"The Worst Girlfriend In The World" (dating "horror stories")
"Uncle Fran’s Musical Forest" (embittered children's show host)
"Urban Wildlife"
The Surprisingly Well Adjusted Vietnam Veteran.
"Street Talk," which dubbed in voices for people unknowingly videotaped on city streets. This bit was later used as the basis for a CBS pilot co-created and produced by Scott Schaefer and hosted by Bill Maher.

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[The AD]

Common courtesy suggests you should get out of your car and go knock on the door.
Instead of annoying all the neighbors with your illegal noisemaking (not just traffic rules - check noise ordinances.)

I'm talking about a quick honk, not laying on the horn, but thanks for the diatribe.

[freshie247]

Don't impolitely honk your horn, get on the loud speaker & yell "Hey F*CK CHOPS ,move it or milk it!" I see a bright future for car loud speaker sales in Seattle.

[IskiEC]

Common courtesy suggests you should get out of your car and go knock on the door.
Instead of annoying all the neighbors with your illegal noisemaking (not just traffic rules - check noise ordinances.)
Just 'cause you're too damn lazy and self-centered to get off your fat ass.

A gentle honk is appropriate for the distracted driver who has been sitting at a green light for several seconds.

A loud, long blast is appropriate for the inconsiderate jackass sitting at a green light while blathering obliviously into his/her cell phone.

Yeah right, then you get a ticket for leaving a disabled vehicle on a state highway and another one for jaywalking...

[g_man80]

If using you horn isn't allowed, then they should fine the person holding up traffic. Are people turning left supposed to sit in their cars quietly while the idiot in front takes a power nap?

[Schmear]

"Speedwalker" with Bill Nye was sheer genius. The Lame List was good, too, as was Mind Your Manners with Billy Kwan.

[rideit]

You ought to try driving in Lima, Peru. If your horn doesn't work you can't drive the car in traffic.

I drive a lot in Lima...there are shops 100% dedicated just to installing crazy-ass horn systems for regular cars and taxis...beep beep!
Cripey, in Arequipa, drivers honk at every blind corner (all of them, basically)
My friends that live in Areqipa and Cusco say they can't sleep out in the country, it is too quiet...