In a message dated 8/25/02 3:27:06 PM, midgard@DRAGON.ORG writes:

> caused. I think that if people wish to be hostile,
> they should take it off-list, work out their differences, etc. I am
> not flaming anyone here, rather, I am encouraging healthy
> communication - or so I hope.
> 
> Agreed. I have taken my reply over to private mail.

> Now, maybe we should discuss what it is like in various places -
> these inspections, and such?
> 
> � For myself, when I lived in Missouri, my truck failed an inspection,
> because the horn would not work. I had to turn the key to "on" - as
> if it were running. Then it passed. The other failure was that it had
> a dead headlight. Replaced it and the muffler too - then it passed
> the safety inspection. There was no emissions testing there. I found
> it odd that they were so worried about me needing to honk, 
> 
Horns are supposed to be safety features (i.e. to warn pedestrians). 
Unfortunately in this day and age where so many folks are listening to 
radios, walkmans, or talking on cell phones, horns often are ignored, or 
can't be heard. I used mine a few years ago in DC to let the driver in front 
of me (who was making an illegal left turn in rush hour traffic) that I 
objected to his driver skills. The cop at the intersection yelled at me for 
using my horn! 

More recently I was in a parking lot wanting to back out of my parking spot. 
Someone was sitting in their car behind me. Not moving, just sitting. It was 
pretty obvious they weren't moving and couldn't hear my horn. I ended up 
getting out walking over to their car and drawing attention to the issue a 
bit more personally.