347.38 Horns and warning devices.
(1) No person shall operate a motor vehicle upon a highway unless such motor vehicle is 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 person shall at any time use a horn otherwise than as a reasonable warning or make any unnecessary or unreasonably loud or harsh sound by means of a horn or other warning device.
(2) Except as otherwise provided in this section, no vehicle shall be equipped with nor shall any person use upon a vehicle any siren or compression or exhaust whistle.
(3) Any vehicle may be equipped with a theft alarm signal device if such device is so arranged that it cannot be used by the driver as an ordinary warning signal.
(4) An authorized emergency vehicle shall be equipped with a siren, 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, when responding to but not upon returning from a fire alarm, when transporting an organ for human transplantation, or when transporting medical personnel for the purpose of performing human organ harvesting or transplantation immediately after the transportation, in which events the driver of such vehicle shall sound the siren when reasonably necessary to warn pedestrians and other drivers.
History: 2007 a. 20.
Structure Wisconsin Statutes & Annotations
Wisconsin Statutes & Annotations
Chapter 347 - Equipment of vehicles.
347.01 - Words and phrases defined.
347.02 - Applicability of chapter.
347.03 - Sale of prohibited equipment unlawful.
347.04 - Owner responsible for improperly equipped vehicle.
347.05 - Reciprocity agreements as to equipment.
347.06 - When lighted lamps required.
347.07 - Special restrictions on lamps and the use thereof.
347.08 - Determining the visibility distance and mounted height of lamps.
347.09 - Headlamps on motor vehicles.
347.10 - Headlamp specifications for motor vehicles other than mopeds and motor bicycles.
347.11 - Headlamp specifications for mopeds and motor bicycles.
347.115 - Modulating headlamps for motorcycles, motor bicycles or mopeds.
347.12 - Use of multiple-beam headlamps.
347.13 - Tail lamps and registration plate lamps.
347.145 - Deceleration warning lights for motorcycles, motor bicycles, mopeds or motor buses.
347.15 - Direction signal lamps or devices.
347.16 - Clearance lamps and reflectors.
347.17 - Color of clearance and marker lamps and reflectors.
347.18 - Mounting of clearance lamps and reflectors.
347.19 - Visibility of clearance lamps and reflectors.
347.20 - Lamp or flag on projecting load or fixture.
347.21 - Lamps and flags on trains of agricultural vehicles.
347.23 - Lamps on highway maintenance equipment.
347.24 - Lamps and reflectors on nonmotor vehicles and equipment.
347.245 - Identification emblem on certain slow moving vehicles.
347.25 - Special warning lamps on vehicles.
347.26 - Restrictions on certain optional lighting equipment.
347.27 - When lighted lamps required on parked vehicles.
347.28 - Certain vehicles to carry flares or other warning devices.
347.29 - Display of warning devices for certain vehicles when standing on highway.
347.30 - Penalty for violating lighting equipment requirements.
347.36 - Performance ability of brakes.
347.37 - Brake fluid, sale regulation.
347.38 - Horns and warning devices.
347.413 - Ignition interlock device tampering; failure to install.
347.417 - Immobilization device tampering.
347.435 - Vehicle monitoring and feedback.
347.44 - Painting requirements for school buses; restrictions as to painting of other vehicles.
347.445 - Crossing gates for school buses.
347.447 - Additional safety mirrors on school buses.
347.455 - Modifications to height of vehicle.
347.46 - Fenders and mudguards.
347.47 - Drawbars, trailer hitches and mobile home couplings.
347.475 - Airbags, prohibited practices.
347.48 - Safety belts and child safety restraint systems.
347.485 - Protective headgear for use on motorcycles.
347.486 - General requirements.
347.487 - Seating requirements.
347.489 - Lamps and other equipment on bicycles and other vehicles and devices.
347.49 - Equipment of vehicles transporting flammable liquids.