---
title: O.C.G.A. § 40-8-70. Horns and warning devices.
collection: code
id: 40-8-70
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 40-8-70 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/40-8-70
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/40-8-70.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/40-8-70/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t40-ch6-16-(v29)-2018-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=97c394d6_0#page=502
date: 2025
status: active
corpus_version: 2025-supplement-89aa39ab3c68
license: CC0-1.0
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
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index: https://georgiacommons.org/code/index.md
version: the only printed version
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly
heading_path: MOTOR VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC / EQUIPMENT AND INSPECTION OF MOTOR VEHICLES / EQUIPMENT GENERALLY / HORNS, EXHAUST SYSTEMS, MIRRORS, WINDSHIELDS, TIRES, SAFETY BELTS, ENERGY ABSORPTION SYSTEMS
---

# O.C.G.A. § 40-8-70. Horns and warning devices.

(a) 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 200 feet, but no horn or other warning device shall emit an unreasonably loud or harsh sound or a whistle. The driver of a motor vehicle shall, when it is reasonably necessary to ensure safe operation, give audible warning with his or her horn but shall not otherwise use such horn when upon a highway.

(b) No vehicle shall be equipped with nor shall any person use upon a vehicle any siren, whistle, or bell except as otherwise permitted in this Code section and Code Section 40-8-94.

(c) No vehicle shall be equipped with a theft alarm signal device which is so arranged that it can be used by the driver as an ordinary warning signal.

## History

Ga. L. 1953, Nov.-Dec. Sess., p. 556, § 116; Code 1933, § 68E-401, enacted by Ga. L. 1982, p. 165, § 4; Code 1981, § 40-8-70, enacted by Ga. L. 1982, p. 165, § 10; Ga. L. 2001, p. 4, § 40.