Horn-Honking Case Proposed to Supreme Court
California suit seeks First Amendment protection of vehicle tooting at will.
The California law, similar to others, prohibits car horn blowing except to alert others of traffic dangers.
IMAGE: Pexels/Wavy_revolution
A California woman has taken her case on the freedom to honk one’s car horn as a First Amendment right all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court.
The Oceanside woman, Susan Porter, cited by a sheriff’s deputy for honking her horn multiple times as she drove past a rally outside a congressman’s office in 2017, says Americans should have the leeway to honk when they feel moved to do so, according to news reports.
Porter honked in support of demonstrators outside Rep. Darrell Issa’s office over his support of then-President Donald Trump.
She was ticketed for misuse of a car horn in violation of state law. Porter sued, arguing that horn honking is a First Amendment right. She lost her case before a district court and a federal appellate court and has now asked the Supreme Court to take it.
The state law, similar to others, prohibits car horn blowing except to alert others of traffic dangers.
The Supreme Court hasn’t yet decided whether to hear the case.
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