Taxis Banned From Honking in NYC: What a Relief or Good Grief?

by SodaHead News Posted 2011/10/26 13:00:00

Related Topics: Taxis, Nyc, Honking, New York City, Honk, Noise, Trash, Police, Rush, NFL, Taxi, Pollution, Cars, New York

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	What a relief	181 votes	45%
	Good grief	220 votes	55%

We can't even picture the streets of Manhattan in the middle of rush hour without hearing the distinct ambiance of angry cabbies and commuters laying on their horns, as if the cars in front could sink into the asphalt and offer them an open road. But according to The New York Post, some of that noise pollution is scheduled to vanish -- or else.

NYC Taxi & Limousine Commission chief David Yassky sent a message to his fleet of 13,000 drivers informing them of their new "neighborly" duties. It read, "Drivers -- remember that honking is against the law except when warning of imminent danger! ... Be a good neighbor and save yourself a $350 summons -- honk ONLY in an emergency!"

And that's not all. According to The New York Post, authorities (it's not clear who, exactly) are actually urging passengers to 311 their drivers if they catch them honking unnecessarily. Even if you're on board with the honking ban, that seems a little disconcerting. 311 is NYC's non-emergency government line, which means those complaints could go straight to the police. Hopefully a customer complaint won't land drivers an immediate summons.

Of course, you can't clear the air completely. Commuters will still be honking -- probably at taxis, now driven by people deprived of the only way they could express their anger. So, presumably there will be a lot of yelling out of windows for a while. (A certain Scorsese film comes to mind.)

In other news, NYC is also taking trash cans out of the subways to fight their rat problems. Would you rather have rats or litter? We kind of like rats, but it's worth a try. Maybe they'll hire full-time trash police. Trash is probably easier to police than rats.

+16

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Holly Pennington 2011/10/26 17:47:37

Good grief

+10
LMFAO.That's like telling a new-born baby not to cry!!
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More polls by SodaHead News

JakeBRADY21 2013/02/14 21:59:50

Good grief

I haven't been to New york yet but when I do go my first twenty minutes should go like this.. Get to airport, find airport taxi and listen to all the glorious road rage and HONKING that lets other drivers know that they suck at driving and your the best one the road.. Why have a horn if you can't honk it.

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Vern 2012/09/23 02:50:09

What a relief

Absolutely should be banned. Now the ban should actually be enforced.

Also, safe driving practices should be enforced. Against all drivers, not just taxi drivers. For example, use of turn signals.

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boostaimpossible 2012/08/28 16:17:08
djdawkins36 2012/04/19 15:03:44

Good grief

What...New York city without honking? Why is Bloomberg trying to take our freedoms and trying to ruin the feel of New York City?

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Bob 2011/11/01 20:34:17

Good grief

Bloomberg,at it again

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Anariashki 2011/10/31 20:23:04

Good grief

In general, it's stupid. I think they should ban the honking some of the non-yellow cab drivers do whenever they see a pedestrian in the outer boroughs, though. No, it doesn't drum up business; if I wanted a cab I would call or hail one, you don't have to remind me or anyone else that cabs exist. All you're doing is making me think I'm obstructing traffic somehow and getting me pissed at you once I figure out I'm not.

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Sare 2011/10/31 19:53:44

Good grief

It's boneheaded, this is a city, not a suburb. Oh wait, the overgentrification that is ruining this once wonderful and unique city is already turning it into an overgrown suburb. If Mayor Bloomberg doesn't like the noise, he could always move outside of the city and give over the mayoral role to someone who can actually turn that city back to a city and not an overgrown, overgentrified suburb that it's becoming with thanks to Giuliani and Bloomberg.

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DS in Oak Ridge NC 2011/10/31 19:39:58 (edited)

Good grief

NYC traffic is always a nightmare, and while many horn honks try to get things moving faster, often they warn inattentive bikers or pedestrians from being crushed by moving cars and cabs. I figure that in NYC, as long as horns do not use trans-fats, they should be legal.

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Raven 2011/10/31 18:51:24

Good grief

Control control and more control

It will work about as good as the other noise ordinances around the country. Cops will eventually ignore the law.

Oh yeah, and how about that no texting while driving law? When did you last see someone texting while driving? Yesterday while she was turning the corner with a baby in the back seat.

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Juanb 2011/10/31 10:49:50

What a relief

+1
The only way they will really stop is if you physically remove them, my friend had a taxi come every morning at 5:00am honking profusely and he needed his sleep b4 work this was going on for 2 weeks nonstop so he decided to wake up early 1 morning and go to his roof and throw a baseball through the car window , after that the taxi problem was solved

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Raven to Juanb 2011/10/31 18:54:02

sounds like the guy who used to live next door to me when the mocking bird would not shut up at 2, 3, 4, 5 am. This went on for a month or so. He fixed it. He shot the bird.

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TKramar 2011/10/31 08:03:48

What a relief

Doesn't really matter to me, since I don't live there, but less noise is a good thing. The horn actually has very little purpose. It's okay for short bursts, but people who use them tend to lay on them. Is it going to make the person in front of you move any faster? No. E Especially if they're stuck behind some idiot themselves.

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Morgan 2011/10/30 23:22:37

Good grief

Even if that WAS enforceable (which I don't think it is) there are still a ton of other cars that are gonna be honking and making a ton of noise anyway.

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Tin Man 2011/10/30 22:36:47

What a relief

Good luck with actual practise and enforcement of that rule! HAR!!!!!

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the_old_coach 2011/10/30 22:17:48

Good grief

Like that will EVEN be enforcable...

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WhereIsAmerica? ~PWCM~JLA 2011/10/30 20:58:51

Good grief

Might increase accidents.

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FantasyAuthor 2011/10/30 18:47:27

Good grief

If they need to honk then they need to honk but if they don't need to honk then they shouldn't honk.

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DizziNY 2011/10/30 18:43:51

What a relief

THANK GOD! I hate taxis in NYC, they don't know what lanes are and they cause all sorts of issues in traffic. They will cross four lanes thru traffic just to get a fare. I am a native New Yorker and Thank God there is a law. They should only be allowed to honk when there is danger.

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MIKEY 2011/10/30 18:22:26

Good grief

what lib moron thought of this...i say honk all day if need be...

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Sare to MIKEY 2011/10/31 19:55:33

+1
Don't blame this on liberals, you cretinous moron. The last time I looked the mayor of the city was a Republican who later became an Independent.

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Anariashki to Sare 2011/10/31 20:28:19

+1
I don't know where El Bloombito fits on the political spectrum. His whole platform seems to revolve around the issues of wealthy, whiny Manhattanites with no self-control or humility. Liberal or conservative doesn't seem to matter, but if you're from Queens or the Bronx, he doesn't hear you.

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MIKEY to Sare 2011/11/01 10:17:25

+1
thanks for sharing...lol....how are ya...hey bloomberg is a turd...honk honk...peace out...

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Brynn 2011/10/30 17:22:31

Good grief

I've been pulled-over for honking my horn once... well it probably also had to do with the fact that the man in front of me got out of his vehicle and wanted to fight me in the middle of rush hour traffic. But the cop did threaten to write me a ticket for using my horn when it wasn't an emergency.

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WhereIs... to Brynn 2011/10/30 21:00:14

+1
Since when are car horns delegated to use only in an emergency. I was taught their purpose was to alert another driver.

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Brynn to WhereIs... 2011/10/31 00:28:15
Sare to Brynn 2011/11/15 05:30:31
TKramar to Brynn 2011/10/31 08:06:06

+1
sounds like an emergency to me.

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Elz 2011/10/30 16:58:28

Good grief

but what if someone cant find their taxi and theyre some steps away from it. then what?

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Stonecipher 2011/10/30 15:59:04

Good grief

I bet these Taxi Drivers are cussing on this one! lol

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Suzie Astridge 2011/10/30 07:14:30

Good grief

+1
It really wouldn't be authentic NYC without the honking taxi-cab horns. However, it can get somewhat annoying at times. It you don't want noise, don't go to NYC. Even at 4:00AM, when you get out of bed to visit the bathroom, you can hear the sound of trucks and lorries unloading food and consumer goods. I love to visit NYC, but I don't think I could live there permanently.

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Vern to Suzie A... 2012/09/23 02:52:22

+1
"Authentic NYC"??? What does that mean? Was NYC not authentic before automobiles?

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Jen 2011/10/30 06:01:03

Good grief

No more horn-honking in NYC?

Isn't that one of the charms of the place? LOL

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Gwendolyn Harper 2011/10/30 04:05:04

Good grief

Wasn't that always the law? I can't see people "allowing" the kind of honking in New York. By the way, try staying at a hotel in New York with a window to the street, even ten feet up. You will not get any sleep without earplugs.

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mamacrash 2011/10/30 02:57:22

Good grief

Someone could get hurt without honking. Think of the hard of hearing, people on bluetooth earpieces, texting and other things that keep people from being alert.

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Vern to mamacrash 2012/09/23 02:53:34

+2
Or people could actually pay attention to their environments instead of depending on someone to blow a horn.

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cupcake 2011/10/30 01:33:38

What a relief

+2
I have to say that that is the biggest complaint I have about NYC! The constant honking to relieve frustration is frustrating to me.

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strawberry 2011/10/30 01:12:04

What a relief

+2
I took taxis in N.Y.C. and often they have to blow their horns. Problem, too many taxi drivers blowing horns, other drivers become immune to listening. Remember those car alarms, so many going off at one time, very annoying. After awhile no one pays attention. Thieves could come and go.

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Vern to strawberry 2012/09/23 02:54:30

+4
I would actually be happy if thieves stole a car with a car alarm. That's karma.

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strawberry to Vern 2012/09/24 01:52:21

Those car alarms were noisy and useless. I would hear several of them go off so many times, especially those with so many different sound effects. Not many people use them anymore.

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Student 2011/10/30 00:25:04

Good grief

+1
Taxis don't honk in NYC, anyway. No driver does. There is no point.

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