Horn-Honking Case Proposed to Supreme Court
California suit seeks First Amendment protection of vehicle tooting at will.
The California law, similar to others, prohibits car horn blowing except to alert others of traffic dangers.
IMAGE: Pexels/Wavy_revolution
A California woman has taken her case on the freedom to honk one’s car horn as a First Amendment right all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court.
The Oceanside woman, Susan Porter, cited by a sheriff’s deputy for honking her horn multiple times as she drove past a rally outside a congressman’s office in 2017, says Americans should have the leeway to honk when they feel moved to do so, according to news reports.
Porter honked in support of demonstrators outside Rep. Darrell Issa’s office over his support of then-President Donald Trump.
She was ticketed for misuse of a car horn in violation of state law. Porter sued, arguing that horn honking is a First Amendment right. She lost her case before a district court and a federal appellate court and has now asked the Supreme Court to take it.
The state law, similar to others, prohibits car horn blowing except to alert others of traffic dangers.
The Supreme Court hasn’t yet decided whether to hear the case.
LEARN MORE: Cybersecurity Risks in Today's High-Tech Vehicles
More Dealer Ops
Dealership Profits Decline
While new and used retail sales stagnated, dealerships have been particularly supported by fixed operations and finance-and-insurance profits, according to a new report.
Read More →
Dealer Debrief: Defection Data & EV Updates
In this week's debrief, host Lauren Lawrence discusses how to use defection data to your advantage and the latest on EV sales and charging infrastructure.
Read More →
How Defection Data is Bridging the Dealership Conversion Gap
Lead volume is flat, cross-shopping is up and brand loyalty is in retreat. As confident sales teams keep losing buyers they thought they had, daily industry sales data is showing dealers exactly where their funnel is breaking and how to fix it without buying a single new lead.
Read More →
Dealer Debrief: Where are you losing customers?
In this week's debrief, host Lauren Lawrence discusses the hidden leaks in dealerships where you might be losing customers without even realizing it.
Read More →
Dealer Debrief: Improving Your Inventory Management
In this week's debrief, host Lauren Lawrence covers a new survey that shows what service technicians really want and two launches that could help improve your inventory and vehicle life cycle management.
Read More →
Ladies and Gentlemen, This Is a Dealership: Why the Fundamentals Still Decide Who Wins
A teaching moment by a legendary football coach happens to apply perfectly in the auto retail space. Learn what it is and how to use it to your store’s advantage.
Read More →
What Market Timing Mistakes Mean for Your Reinsurance Program
When volatility hits, dealer-owned reinsurance programs face a familiar temptation: pull back and wait for calmer waters. New data from BOK Financial shows why that instinct can quietly cost you years of surplus growth.
Read More →
Dealer Ads and the FTC
The agency has made it clear in recent enforcement actions and warnings, in auto retail and other industries, that advertised prices must include all nonoptional costs to the consumer.
Read More →
Used Autos Supply Dwindles
The March shopping surge, despite high prices, cut into inventory by the most since the thick of the pandemic, Cox Automotive analysts calculated.
Read More →
Managing Risk Effectively Through Changing Times
The variables influencing risk pricing have changed significantly over the past five years. Being proactive and responsive to emerging trends is not optional but essential.
Read More →