Florida Statute 316.271 - Full Text and Legal Analysis

The 2025 Florida Statutes

Title XXIII
MOTOR VEHICLES

Chapter 316
STATE UNIFORM TRAFFIC CONTROL

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316.271 Horns and warning devices.—

(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 200 feet.

(2) No horn or other warning device shall emit an unreasonably loud or harsh sound or a whistle.

(3) The driver of a motor vehicle shall, when reasonably necessary to ensure safe operation, give audible warning with his or her horn.

(4) 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 section or s. 316.2397.

(5) 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 an ordinary warning signal.

(6) Every authorized emergency vehicle shall be equipped with a siren, whistle, or bell capable of emitting sound audible under normal conditions from a distance of not less than 500 feet and of a type approved by the department, but such siren, whistle, or bell shall not be used except when the vehicle is operated in response to an emergency call or in the immediate pursuit of an actual or suspected violator of the law, in which event the driver of the vehicle shall sound the siren, whistle, or bell when reasonably necessary to warn pedestrians and other drivers of the approach thereof.

(7) Notwithstanding the other provisions of this section, a trolley may be equipped with a bell, and the bell is not required to be used only as a warning device. As used in this subsection, the term “trolley” includes any bus which resembles a streetcar, which is powered by overhead electric wires or is self-propelled, and which is used primarily as a public conveyance.

(8) A violation of this section is a noncriminal traffic infraction, punishable as a nonmoving violation as provided in chapter 318.

History.—s. 1, ch. 71-135; s. 4, ch. 86-36; s. 1, ch. 88-91; s. 325, ch. 95-148; s. 203, ch. 99-248; s. 72, ch. 2012-181; s. 5, ch. 2024-34.

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Amendments to 316.271

Annotations, Discussions, Cases:

Civil Citations / Citable Offenses under S316.271

R or S next to points is Mandatory Revocation or Suspension

S316.271 (1) HORN - No/Defective - Points on Drivers License: 0

S316.271 (2) HORN - LOUD/Harsh sound of horn/warning device - Points on Drivers License: 0

S316.271 (4) SIREN/BELL/WHISTLE - Unlawful use/equipment - Points on Drivers License: 0

S316.271 (5) THEFT ALARM SIGNAL DEVICE - Improper use - Points on Drivers License: 0

S316.271 (6) SIREN/BELL/WHISTLE - Unlawful use/equipment - Points on Drivers License: 0

Cases Citing Statute 316.271

Total Results: 6

Kim D. Lee v. Luis Ferraro

284 F.3d 1188, 2002 U.S. App. LEXIS 3438, 2002 WL 340670

Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit | Filed: Mar 5, 2002 | Docket: 369466

Cited 1232 times | Published

citation for improper use of her car horn under Section 316.271(1) of the Florida Statutes. On August 8, 1997

Thomas v. State

583 So. 2d 336, 1991 WL 41004

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Aug 8, 1991 | Docket: 1284058

Cited 13 times | Published

Fla. Stat. [11] § 318.14, Fla. Stat. [12] § 316.271(4), Fla. Stat., (1989). [13] It is significant

Siplin v. State

795 So. 2d 1010, 2001 WL 1006205

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Sep 5, 2001 | Docket: 1253217

Cited 10 times | Published

2397(2), Florida Statutes (2000). Furthermore, section 316.271(6) provides the siren, whistle, or bell on

Gulley v. Pierce

625 So. 2d 45, 1993 WL 366882

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Sep 17, 1993 | Docket: 1517571

Cited 9 times | Published

the jury regarding instructions relating to Section 316.271, Florida Statutes (1989), requiring every motor

Oslin v. State

912 So. 2d 672, 2005 WL 2572405

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Oct 14, 2005 | Docket: 1649915

Cited 3 times | Published

2397(2), Florida Statutes (2000). Furthermore, section 316.271(6) provides the siren, whistle, or bell on

Classy Cycles, Inc. v. Bay County

201 So. 3d 779, 2016 Fla. App. LEXIS 14507

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Sep 28, 2016 | Docket: 60257072

Published

of brakes), § 316.263 (maintenance of brakes), § 316.271 (horns and warning devices), § 316.272 (exhaust

This Florida statute resource is curated by Graham W. Syfert, Esq., a Jacksonville, Florida personal injury and workers' compensation attorney. Attorney Syfert regularly works with Chapter 316 in the context of traffic and automobile accident law and represents clients throughout Northeast Florida. For legal consultation, call 904-383-7448.