§ 35-813. Horns and warning devices.

(a)

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 200 feet, but no horn or other warning device shall emit an unreasonably loud or harsh sound or a whistle. The driver of a motor vehicle shall when reasonably necessary to ensure safe operation give audible warning with such vehicle's horn but shall not otherwise use such horn when upon a highway.

(b)

No vehicle shall be equipped with nor shall any person use upon a vehicle any siren or bell except as otherwise permitted in this section.

(c)

Any vehicle may be equipped with a theft alarm signal device that is so arranged that it cannot be used by the driver as an ordinary warning signal. Such a theft alarm signal may use a whistle, bell, horn or other audible signal but shall not use a siren.

(d)

Every authorized emergency vehicle shall be equipped with a siren, whistle, or bell, capable of emitting sound audible under normal conditions from a distance of not less than 500 feet and of a type approved by the secretary, but such siren shall not be used except when such vehicle is operated in response to an emergency call or in the immediate pursuit of an actual or suspected violator of the law, in which latter events the driver of such vehicle shall sound the siren when reasonably necessary to warn pedestrians and other drivers of its approach.

(e)

Every truck specifically designed and equipped and used exclusively for garbage, refuse, or solid waste disposal operations shall be equipped with a whistle, bell, or other audible signal. Such whistle, bell, or other audible signal shall be used only when the driver of the truck is backing such truck, unless another ordinance prohibits such operation during specific periods of time during the day.

(Code 1964, § 36-262; Code 1988, § 35-714; Ord. No. 53410, § 1, 1-7-1975; Ord. No. O-2-05, § 19, 1-6-2005)

State law reference

Similar provisions, K.S.A. 8-1738.