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Confession: I’m a honker

By Catherine Toth Fox • June 6, 2011 • Musings, The Daily Dish

I could blame a lot of things: my upbringing, the years spent in Catholic school, a subconscious attraction to drama.

But I’m a honker.

I’ve been one since before I had a driver’s license. I would reach over and honk someone’s else car horn if I felt an injustice had transpired. Illegal lane-changing, aggressive merging, fiddling with radio dials or applying mascara in a moving vehicle — I’ve always felt it was my responsibility to keep drivers in line.

And I don’t feel badly when others honk at me. (As long as they’re right.)

I know honking isn’t widely accepted on Hawaii’s roadways. We like to “Drive with Aloha” and use our car horns only when we know someone in another car or walking down the street. But I like to honk when necessary — and I honk often.

But I didn’t know — until reading Kokua Line last week in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser — that honking in Honolulu can be unlawful.

According to the article, there’s a city law that outlines exactly when you can use your car horn. And that’s when it’s “reasonably necessary” for safety purposes.

Seems like a very subjective parameter.

And get this: the law prohibits using a horn in any other situation — including saying hi to your uncle crossing the street or alerting the car in front that, uh, the light turned green 10 seconds ago.

I can’t believe this law exists, honestly. Not that I think everyone should irresponsibly use their car horns. But to ban the friendly use of them seems a bit, well, unreasonable — and completely unenforceable.

Of course, I say this because the car horn is the second most-used switch in my car, next to window wipers.

Got an opinion on this?

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Catherine Toth Fox

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32 Comments

  • Reply WildeOscar June 6, 2011 at 1:48 am

    I almost never use my horn. I also find it calming to believe that every time a woman driver honks at me she is trying to get my attention so she can ask me out. The reality is a lot less pleasant.

    • Reply Catherine Toth June 6, 2011 at 1:11 pm

      Hey, that’s a great way to deal with honkers! I’ll just wave back and smile!

  • Reply islandgirlinnc June 6, 2011 at 1:50 am

    I can’t believe there is a law outlining the fact that you can’t say “hi” to someone with your car horn or let the car in front of you know of a green light. I remember growing up when the horn was used for all kinds of reasons. It was also how you used the horn. For example, my dad used to pop the horn lightly twice to say “hi” to friends on the side of the road. Other times, my dad would use the horn if he was coming around a sharp turn on a one lane road just to alert potential drivers coming from the other side. Actually, there wasn’t really a time my dad would use the horn because he was mad at someone. My question would be is how is this law enforced? I mean if someone took exception to the fact that you beeped them when they waited too long at a green light, could they call the police on you? Just curious how would this law be enforced.

    • Reply Catherine Toth June 6, 2011 at 1:11 pm

      That’s exactly right — how is this law enforced? I wonder if anyone’s been ticketing over unlawful honking…

  • Reply oldshoes June 6, 2011 at 2:34 am

    Honker? i think just a “tap” of the horn is appropo. Perpetual and uncontrolled honkage may be hazzardous to one’s health.And ears. Also heavy honking could startled,even rattle the intended honkeee,causing the “deer-in-the-headlights” syndrome. There’s an old saying: whats the definition of milo-nano second? Thats the time it takes when the light turns green and the dummy behind you starts a-honking.Or something.

    • Reply Catherine Toth June 6, 2011 at 1:13 pm

      True, I do just tap the horn if someone is spacing out at a green light. But I’ll honk if someone — say, at the intersection of Piikoi and Lunaliko streets — is blocking traffic because the driver went through a yellow (or red) light when he shouldn’t have. That won’t be a tap!

  • Reply oldshoes June 6, 2011 at 2:36 am

    Also….you’ve mentioned being Catholic. 2 great,funny books to read: “Growing Up Catholic”, and “Do Black Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up.”

  • Reply jaydee June 6, 2011 at 4:40 am

    I will honk but only when the knucklehead’s drive all crazy. Years ago, when I was a teen, I used to honk when I got to my GF’s place. That lasted all of two times when the father of said GF came out and read me the riot act. More worse, they were friends of my parents so I caught hell from them as well. Yeah, I guess the biggest knucklehead in those days was me!

    • Reply Catherine Toth June 6, 2011 at 1:14 pm

      I forgot about that! I had a friend who always did that, honk when he pulled up to people’s homes. I don’t think folks liked that very much!

  • Reply M June 6, 2011 at 6:03 am

    Hello Cat, I rarely use my horn and when I do I hit the wrong place. hahaha Be care when using you horn, you could encounter road rage from the person you honking at.

    • Reply Catherine Toth June 6, 2011 at 1:14 pm

      Nah, I don’t have road rage. I just “talk” a lot with my car horn. 🙂

  • Reply Cody Zamboni June 6, 2011 at 6:08 am

    After living in LA for 5 years, I learned to use my horn. If someone cuts me off, I don’t honk. I HOLD DOWN THE HORN FOR 30 SECONDS AND FOLLOW THE PERSON THAT CUT ME OFF. A non-stop 30 second blast of sound to scare the bejesus out of the offender.
    Or if I can’t follow the person, I’ll hold down my horn as I drive by the offender. Yeah, I guess it’s a little extreme. But it makes a definate impression.

    • Reply Brian June 6, 2011 at 7:09 am

      Now that should be made illegal!! You’re just promoting road rage!

    • Reply Catherine Toth June 6, 2011 at 1:14 pm

      30 seconds?? That would get my attention, for sure!

  • Reply Ynaku June 6, 2011 at 7:07 am

    toot = HI

    TOOT = excuse me

    TOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT = WASSA MATTAH YOU?

    I agree, the law needs to be changed. I also heard you need to toot the horn before passing a car. (I gotta go look that one up)

    • Reply Catherine Toth June 6, 2011 at 1:15 pm

      LIKE 🙂

  • Reply aloharoy June 6, 2011 at 10:05 am

    Cat: I have to admit that I’m a honker too. But I don’t have the cat-like relexes to honk at appropriate time so sometimes it’s just a tad bit too late to have the effect that I want.

    Regardless, law or not, honking in certain situations is a must even without imminent danger. For me, a honk is a must at the 4-way stop intersection with no traffic signal … when there’s one idiot deciding to go out of turn and blow up the smooth flow of traffic that previously existed. Someone’s got to let that driver know that his move wasn’t appreciated. And it might as well be me.

    I admit that I’m a honkee. And deservedly so. Aren’t we all at some time?

    • Reply Catherine Toth June 6, 2011 at 1:15 pm

      Well, I honk — but I don’t roll down my window and cuss out the driver or fly the bird. I’m pretty good about keep those emotions confined to my horn.

  • Reply Ken June 6, 2011 at 10:15 am

    Anti-honking laws are pretty common across the USA. I’d rather they were not necessary, but honking in non-emergency situations can be a safety hazard if you distract other drivers.

    • Reply Catherine Toth June 6, 2011 at 1:16 pm

      Like @islandgirlinnc said, it’s an unenforceable law. I just can’t see how the police could tag people for that. So subjective — and so common.

  • Reply edw June 6, 2011 at 10:19 am

    I don’t honk often only when some idiot cuts me off. In the cities, DC, Philly, better watch it the other party may be carrying a gun.

    I remember back when I had some one lay on their horn behind me after my car had stalled I was an old moody Ford wagon. I got out and popped his hood (back then you didn’t need to go inside to do that) and cut the wires and yanked his distributor cable, and took it with me. Now he was dead in the water. I restarted and took off.

    • Reply Catherine Toth June 6, 2011 at 1:17 pm

      Yeah, we don’t have that problem here (yet). I lived in Chicago and using your horn was like turning on the a/c. You did it when appropriate!

  • Reply David Jackson June 6, 2011 at 11:24 am

    I’ve had my new to me Toyota Corolla for a year now and I have blown the horn once. I prefer yelling at the other folks on the road. all a horn does it make a single sound, it can’t top a full force rant. I feel better, the other person likely feels the subsonic pulse and knows not where it came from. I like it better than blowing the horn because you never know when an idiot thinks blowing the horn at them is an excuse for gun play. and even at 6’2″ and no guns there are some frighteningly strong ‘roid rage wing nuts out there that can take pretty much anyone.

    But hey, one horn blow in a year and you likely get the correct impression I don’t get upset that often.

    • Reply Catherine Toth June 6, 2011 at 1:18 pm

      I don’t yell, but I have gotten yelled at — by other women! I mean, hardcore ragers! It’s scary!

      • Reply David Jackson June 6, 2011 at 1:56 pm

        Yes, so have I. many times I have prayed to God for fewer women NRA members. In North Raleigh God help you if you are in the way of ladies headed to the next BIG SALE at the mall. Cars, sales, firearms, and PMS are NOT a good combination.

  • Reply Eric June 6, 2011 at 11:28 am

    I only honk my horn if someone is about to cut me off. However, on occasion, I have been guilty of laying on the horn (for only a short stint) after the fact… i.e., after a near miss.

    What is really annoying though is to see someone (usually a group of people) standing on the roadside with signs that say “Honk if you support XYZ”. This happened a while back on the opposite of a street lined with restaurants and outdoor patios. So, all of the diners got to enjoy sporadic honking during their dinner.

    • Reply Catherine Toth June 6, 2011 at 1:18 pm

      LOL, forgot about that! I guess that’s illegal!

  • Reply mykey June 6, 2011 at 12:00 pm

    I saw the Kokua Line article and thought it kind of silly. I’m guilty of tapping on my horn when the car in front of me isn’t paying attention to the traffic light that’s changed to green sometime ago and still hasn’t moved. What about those groups of people that stand on sidewalks with signs that say “Toot if you support”? Some of those demonstrations are for a good cause and deserve our support. Just a stupi law if you ask me.

  • Reply matt June 6, 2011 at 3:50 pm

    living on the continent, it’s more common to hear honking (and to honk others). at home, i don’t honk.

    in nyc, there are residential neighborhoods with signs saying that it’s illegal to honk (just on those particular block). it’s a pretty hefty fine, too (~350, iirc), so “unenforcable” or not, it seems potentially pricy to just chance em.

  • Reply NSDGR June 6, 2011 at 3:55 pm

    I use my horn all the time. Especially when other people are not paying attention.

    It’s on the truck. Make use of it.

    Flashy the high lights helps too.

  • Reply Doofus June 6, 2011 at 6:38 pm

    Honking at dimwits and homicidal jackasses is what my people do. We are the mainland haole. It is our way. Y’all need to show some respect for OUR culture too.

  • Reply Guest June 7, 2011 at 9:32 am

    illlegal schmilegal. Get too many laws. Many are unenforceable all ready like the seat belt, cell phone, and stuff hanging from your rear view mirror.

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About Me

About Me
Born and raised on O‘ahu, Hawaiʻi, Catherine Toth Fox has been chronicling her adventures in her blog, The Cat Dish, for more than a decade. She worked as a newspaper reporter in Hawai‘i for 10 years and continues to freelance—in between teaching journalism, hitting the surf and eating everything in sight—for national and local print and online publications. She’s currently the editor of HAWAIʻI Magazine.

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