§ 42-4-224 — Horns or warning devices - definition

Colorado § 42-4-224

• Jurisdiction: Colorado
• Title 42: Vehicles and
• Art.: Regulation of Vehicles and Traffic

Text

(1) 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 two hundred feet, but no horn or other warning device shall emit an
unreasonably loud or harsh sound, except as provided in section 42-4-213 (1) in the
case of authorized emergency vehicles or as provided in section 42-4-222. The
driver of a motor vehicle, when reasonably necessary to ensure safe operation, shall
give audible warning with the horn but shall not otherwise use such horn when upon
a highway.

(2) No vehicle shall be equipped with nor shall any person use upon a vehicle
any audible device except as otherwise permitted in this section. It is permissible
but not required that any vehicle be equipped with a theft alarm signal device which
is so arranged that it cannot be used by the driver as a warning signal unless the
alarm device is a required part of the vehicle. Nothing in this section is meant to
preclude the use of audible warning devices that are activated when the vehicle is
backing. Any authorized emergency vehicle may be equipped with an audible signal
device under section 42-4-213 (1), but such device shall not be used except when
such vehicle is operated in response to an emergency call or in the actual pursuit of
a suspected violator of the law or for other special purposes, including, but not
limited to, funerals, parades, and the escorting of dignitaries. Such device shall not
be used for such special purposes unless the circumstances would not lead a
reasonable person to believe that such vehicle is responding to an actual
emergency.

(3) A bicycle, electrical assisted bicycle, electric scooter, or low-power
scooter shall not be equipped with, nor shall any person use upon a bicycle,
electrical assisted bicycle, electric scooter, or low-power scooter, a siren or whistle.

(4) Snowplows and other snow-removal equipment shall display flashing
yellow lights meeting the requirements of section 42-4-214 as a warning to drivers
when such equipment is in service on the highway.

(5) (a) When any snowplow or other snow-removal equipment displaying
flashing yellow lights is engaged in snow and ice removal or control, drivers of all
other vehicles shall exercise more than ordinary care and caution in approaching,
overtaking, or passing such snowplow.

(b) The driver of a snowplow, while engaged in the removal or control of
snow and ice on any highway open to traffic and while displaying the required
flashing yellow warning lights as provided by section 42-4-214, shall not be
charged with any violation of the provisions of this article relating to parking or
standing, turning, backing, or yielding the right-of-way. These exemptions shall not
relieve the driver of a snowplow from the duty to drive with due regard for the
safety of all persons, nor shall these exemptions protect the driver of a snowplow
from the consequences of a reckless or careless disregard for the safety of others.

(6) (a) Any person who violates any provision of this section commits a class
B traffic infraction; except that a person commits a class A traffic infraction if the
person passes an authorized service vehicle snowplow that is operated by a state,
county, or local government, displaying lights as authorized in section 42-4-214,
and performing its service function in echelon formation with one or more other
such snowplows.

(b) As used in this subsection (6), unless the context otherwise requires,
echelon formation means a formation in which snowplows are arranged
diagonally, with each unit stationed behind and to the right, or behind and to the
left, of the unit ahead.

Legislative History

Source: L. 94: Entire title amended with relocations, p. 2259, � 1, effective January 1, 1995. L. 2005: (1) and (2) amended, p. 196, � 3, effective July 1. L. 2009: (3) amended, (HB 09-1026), ch. 281, p. 1276, � 47, effective October 1. L. 2019: (3) amended, (HB 19-1221), ch. 271, p. 2560, � 6, effective May 23; (6) amended, (HB 19-1265), ch. 203, p. 2175, � 2, effective August 2.