Doing This At A Stoplight In Minnesota Could Cost You $300

You are at a stoplight on Division, and there is a vehicle ahead of you. The stoplight changes over from red to green, and the vehicle ahead of you doesn't move. One Mississippi, two Mississippi, three Mississippi. The vehicle ahead of you is still not moving, so you encourage the driver ahead of you to get on the stick and get moving so you generously honk your horn at them. You've just committed a crime.

Minnesota law states that you can only toot that horn" when reasonably necessary to ensure safe operation or to give audible warning". Here's the first part of Minnesota Statute 169.68

Every motor vehicle when operated upon a highway must 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. However, the horn or other warning device must not emit an unreasonably loud or harsh sound or a whistle. The driver of a motor vehicle shall, when reasonably necessary to insure safe operation, give audible warning with the horn, but shall not otherwise use the horn when upon a highway.

While I'm sure most police officers have better things to do than sit at intersections and write tickets for honking, BUT if you were to get a ticket it could be considered a petty misdemeanor. A petty misdemeanor could cost you in Minnesota up to $300.

Don't worry about being thrown in the clink for honking. Petty misdemeanors aren't jailable offenses either...unless you don't pay the fine.