Colorado § 42-4-224 - Horns or warning devices - definition.

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

(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.

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.

Editor's note: This section is similar to former § 42-4-221 as it existed prior to 1994, and the former § 42-4-224 was relocated to § 42-4-227.