LOS ANGELES — Part of the soundtrack of Los Angeles is the sound of the myriad vehicles that make their way through the city every day — the hum of the engines, the music blaring from the radios and, of course, the honking of horns, often used to convey anger, approval and numerous other emotions.
But according to a ruling by a three-judge panel of the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, blaring a horn, whether in frustration when the 405 turns into a parking lot or in support of a group of demonstrators standing along a roadway, is not protected free speech.
The ruling earlier this month stemmed from a lawsuit filed against the California Highway Patrol and the San Diego County Sheriff's Department by San Diego resident Susan Porter after she was cited in 2017 for misuse of her car horn. She had honked in support of protesters outside the office of Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Bonsall).
