815.225
Violation of use limits on sound equipment; exemptions; penalty. (1) A person commits the offense
of violation of use limits on sound equipment if the person does any of the
following:
(a) Uses upon a
vehicle, any bell, siren, compression or exhaust whistle.
(b) Uses a horn
otherwise than as a reasonable warning or makes any unnecessary or unreasonably
loud or harsh sound by means of a horn or other warning device.
(2) Authorized
emergency vehicles and ambulances are not subject to this section but are
subject to ORS 820.370 and 820.380.
(3) The offense
described in this section, violation of use limits on sound equipment, is a
Class C traffic violation. [1983 c.338 §491]
Note: The amendments to 815.225 by
section 12, chapter 278, Oregon Laws 2025, become operative January 1, 2027.
See section 24, chapter 278, Oregon Laws 2025. The text that is operative on
and after January 1, 2027, is set forth for the user’s convenience.
815.225. (1) A person commits the offense
of violation of use limits on sound equipment if the person does any of the
following:
(a) Uses upon a
vehicle, any bell, siren, compression or exhaust whistle.
(b) Uses a horn
otherwise than as a reasonable warning or makes any unnecessary or unreasonably
loud or harsh sound by means of a horn or other warning device.
(2) Authorized
emergency vehicles, organ transport vehicles and ambulances are not subject to
this section but are subject to ORS 820.370 and 820.380.
(3) The offense
described in this section, violation of use limits on sound equipment, is a
Class C traffic violation.
Notes of Decisions
City of Eugene v. Powlowski, 840 P.2d 1322 (Or. Ct. App. 1992).
· cites it 6× “The ordinance adopts ORS 815.225, which provides, in part: "(1) A person commits the offense of violation of use limits on sound equipment if the person does any of the following: "* * * * * "(b) Uses a horn otherwise than as a reasonable warning or makes any unnecessary or…”
Susan Porter v. Kelly Martinez, 68 F.4th 429 (9th Cir. 2023).
“” Or. Rev. Stat. § 815.225 (1)(b). Rhode Island: “The driver of a motor vehicle shall when reasonably necessary to insure safe operation give audible warning with his or her horn but shall not otherwise use the horn when upon a highway.”
State v. Keller, 379 P.3d 545 (Multnomah Cty. Cir. Ct., O.R. 2016).
“360 (traffic violation to use prohibited police vehicle lighting); ORS 815.225 (traffic violation to use a siren on a vehicle); ORS 815.”
State v. Hagel, 149 P.3d 1286 (Or. Ct. App. 2006).
· cites it 4× “1 ORS 815.225(1) provides, in part: “A person commits the offense of violation of use limits on sound equipment if the person does any of the following: ^ ‡ ‡ "(b) Uses a horn otherwise than as a reasonable warning or makes any unnecessary or unreasonably loud or harsh sound by…”
State v. Anderson, 314 P.3d 335 (Or. Ct. App. 2013).
“222 (windows); ORS 815.225 - 815.230 (horns); ORS 815.235 - 815.”
Susan Porter v. Kelly Martinez (9th Cir. 2023).
“” Or. Rev. Stat. § 815.225 (1)(b). Rhode Island: “The driver of a motor vehicle shall when reasonably necessary to insure safe operation give audible warning with his or her horn but shall not otherwise use the horn when upon a highway.”
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 815.225(1) — 1 case
State v. Hagel, 149 P.3d 1286 (Or. Ct. App. 2006).
“1 ORS 815.225(1) provides, in part: “A person commits the offense of violation of use limits on sound equipment if the person does any of the following: ^ ‡ ‡ "(b) Uses a horn otherwise than as a reasonable warning or makes any unnecessary or unreasonably loud or harsh sound by…”
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 815.225(1)(b) — 2 cases
City of Eugene v. Powlowski, 840 P.2d 1322 (Or. Ct. App. 1992).
“The ordinance adopts ORS 815.225, which provides, in part: "(1) A person commits the offense of violation of use limits on sound equipment if the person does any of the following: "* * * * * "(b) Uses a horn otherwise than as a reasonable warning or makes any unnecessary or…”
State v. Hagel, 149 P.3d 1286 (Or. Ct. App. 2006).
“1 ORS 815.225(1) provides, in part: “A person commits the offense of violation of use limits on sound equipment if the person does any of the following: ^ ‡ ‡ "(b) Uses a horn otherwise than as a reasonable warning or makes any unnecessary or unreasonably loud or harsh sound by…”
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 815.225(l)(b) — 1 case
City of Eugene v. Powlowski, 840 P.2d 1322 (Or. Ct. App. 1992).
“The ordinance adopts ORS 815.225, which provides, in part: "(1) A person commits the offense of violation of use limits on sound equipment if the person does any of the following: "* * * * * "(b) Uses a horn otherwise than as a reasonable warning or makes any unnecessary or…”
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