C.O. Montgomery
I recently ran across an interesting article about a California lady that “honked” her horn in public and will be taking her case all the way to the United States Supreme Court.
Susan Porter was “tee-totally” shocked when a sheriff’s deputy issued her a citation. What was the crime? Unnecessary horn honking.
The deputy alleged that Ms. Porter violated a California law for “illegal use of horn.” The deputy issued her a citation. What was her crime? Ms. Porter had been driving by a rally outside her congressman’s office in 2007. A political rally was going on, so she honked her horn in support of her candidate. Her horn honking was a “sign of support” for her candidate. She maintains that her car horn was a sound of democracy in action. The sheriff was doing his job by issuing her a citation. The law clearly states: one can only honk one’s horn only to warn another driver.
Indiana has a similar law. Indiana code Title 9, Section 2 states the driver of a motor vehicle shall, when reasonably necessary to ensure safe operation, give audible warning with the horn on the motor vehicle, but may not otherwise use the horn upon the highway. In Indiana it is illegal to just honk your horn for no reason. The horn, by law, should only be used for safety reasons and to help avoid an accident. It is punishable by law and one could get pulled over and issued a citation. Incidentally, in 1972 Hawaii issued no less than five citations for horn honking. Now in reference to Ms. Porter’s case, she maintains that her honking is protected under the First Amendment, freedom of speech.
I titled this issue of “Coffee House Ramblings” Silly Goose/Horn Honkers. I submit that the citation, which was by law, warranted, was just plain silly. Dear reader, who amongst us has not honked our horn to greet a friend or as a gesture of support?
I would certainly need to raise my hand. Why? Because it is the right thing to do. Unfortunately,
our world today has become a “dog-eat-dog” world. I have had the privilege to teach literally thousands of kids and adults how to drive. I started my career fresh out of Ball State University in 1968. Driver education teachers pro-actively attempt to provide new drivers with sound guidance in regards to safe driving. In case you were wondering? Yes, we do instruct the beginning driver on the proper use of the horn. Our roads and highways are filled with selfish get-out-of-my-way drivers. Unfortunately, misuse of an automobile’s horn can lead to “road rage.” When I orientate a new driver, I stress that in its purist form driving is not complicated if one just uses common sense. Blasting one’s horn (to demand your right of way) is not prudent, nor does it show common sense.
So, in reference to Susan Porter’s case, technically she broke the law. The law is clearly a California statute. It is clearly a statue in Indiana, as well, as it is in at least 41 states in the USA.
Back in February of 2023, columnist John Fritze in USA Today wrote on this very topic. He says of Susan Porter, “Since the dawn of the automobile, car horns have sometimes served as a form of expression.” Because of that, Porter says, beeping is protected under the First Amendment. “The car horn is the sound of democracy in action.” Porter’s attorneys say such requirements defy reality. Her attorneys may have a good case. There is horn-honking precedent, from then-candidate Joe Biden to former President Donald Trump. Biden encouraged people to honk “if you want to be united again.” President Donald Trump was delivering remarks in the Rose Garden. A convoy of truckers honked their horns in a show of protest. Trump’s reaction? He sarcastically interpreted it as a “sign of love.”
So how does Coffee House Ramblings interpret Susan Porter’s actions? I interpret it as Silly Goose/Horn Honkers. To quote Shakespeare, “Much ado about nothing,” or is it a First Amendment Violation? Perhaps it is a poorly written law? Laws sometimes have unintended consequences. Do I support Susan Porter for taking it to the highest court in our land? I absolutely do. But the bottom line is that it is still Silly Goose/Horn Honking.
C.O. Montgomery of New Palestine is a former teacher and former Sugar Creek Township trustee.
