When Illegal to Honk Your Horn in New Hampshire, Massachusetts

To honk or not to honk, that is the question that could affect your wallet.

Whether you're driving from Massachusetts to New Hampshire, road-tripping from Connecticut to Rhode Island, or from Maine to Vermont, you may want to know when you can and cannot legally honk your horn.

I'm guessing you take advantage of your horn when that annoying driver in front of you just sits there for several seconds after the light turns green.

Personally, I often do the quick and friendly "tap-tap" on my horn, but the distracted driver sometimes deserves a semi-long honk when the light tap doesn't work.

While the distracted driver who should be moving and isn't can be a safety issue, it all depends on the time and place.

A perfect example is when a driver stops instead of yielding at a rotary, causing an unnecessary backup. Police could write you up because it's illegal to honk in that situation.

According to The Sun website, it's all about law enforcement discretion to a certain extent regarding when honking is necessary or not. That said, there are definitely legal instances where you can lay on your horn. Here's when we can and can't use our horns legally, according to the Defensive Driving website,

When It's Okay to Honk

To alert a driver who is about to hit you
To alert a pedestrian that they are in danger
To alert another car at a traffic signal

When It's Not Okay to Honk

To grab someone's attention to say hello
To express anger or annoyance
For fun

Basically, if someone starts to cut you off or weave into your lane, you can honk.

If a pedestrian starts to walk in front of your car or appears they're going to, you can honk.

If the action of a driver is unsafe, you can honk.

The keyword is safety when it comes to honking your horn. Unless it's an emergency or a safety issue that could cause a minor or major accident, leave your horn alone.

I should have some fines at this point, even with my friendly honk-honk, I guess. You, too?

Some of the Best Rock Shows In Connecticut This Summer - 2025

If there was ever a time we needed to feel the rush of live music again, it’s now. Rock shows have this awesome way of shaking the stress off and bringing people together—no matter your age, background, or playlist. So why not grab some tickets, crank up the energy, and catch some of the best live rock acts hitting Connecticut this summer?

Below is a list of shows I’m especially hyped about. “Best” is always up for debate, but these are the ones I’d recommend without hesitation based on what these bands have done over the years. And hey, there’s plenty more out there—so if you’re curious, check out the venue links and dig a little deeper.

Gallery Credit: Lou Milano