Comming north into Las Vegas on I-515, there's a pretty good downhill. The
sign says no exhaust brakes. I usually leave mine on to avoid an overspeed/excessivespeed flag on my Sensortrac, but always one to obey the law I turned it off. (overspeed=67+with your foot in it) (excessivespeed=70+coasting)
The hectic urban freeway commuter traffic dominated my attention and when I scanned the speedo,Yep! 16 seconds of excessive speed.
My question is what gives them the right to not allow the use of manufacturer installed "safety" equipment? I can understand an excessive noise ordinance, but my jake makes less noise than many stock 2wheelers.

R.L.

Noise, people don't want to hear that echo-wing across to thier homes....
For the most part it is not the nice baffled exhaust breaks that cause the issue it is the guys who have strait pipes making all kinds of noise... Dunno kind of ticks me off when these guys come flying into town hitting thier jake's all through town with strait pipes.. I guess the think its cool or something, the problem is sooner or later people get sick of it and they pass a law non exhaust break... Some states have it illegal to run strait pipes... Anyways that's why..local peoples comfort comes first over safety far as downhill goes...

My truck doesn't run straight pipes, so I never worry about those signs.

Usually it is the old situation of the highway (or airport) was there then the developers came in and built subdivisions. Stupid people bought the homes in those subdivisions next to the airport or freeway, then started complaining about the noise. . .

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I've been down that road so many times I couldn't count. I will tell you how that law came about. You've got people there that got involved with the local government and they spoke up to their representatives about the noise at night. The next thing you know you've got signs up. That road never really bothered me since I feel you really don't need the engine brake for that short hill anyway.

I've had the same thing happen to me on the other side of town. I would go down this 4 lane surface street to make a delivery at this certain gas station. One weekend I was working OT and I saw a bunch of people having cookouts in their backyards which was right next to the road. The very next time I went there they had put up no trucks signs just on one side of that road. Of course it didn't matter to me because I can still go down that road to make a delivery.

There's alot of people that get together in thier neighborhhods to try to get things done for them. It all depends on who your know and how much money you have in that town.

I have heard that the federal regulations will supersede any local ordnance on this issue, as you have the right, in an emergency situation to stop your vehicle any way necessary.

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The ordinance also came about because of the old school and new school drivers who have aftermarket stacks that are louder........you and others have gotten caught in the same old cliche' the few make it bad for the whole.

But other point..........The right they haev is that even though it is a safety feature it is not necessary to maintain control of your vehicle.
The law does not recognize it as a necessity. Your vehicle can be controled/maintained without jakes..............

I have been on this road my self and know what you are refering to....

However, the only time I use my jakes are when I have a heavy load under certain circumstances..........I train my students to drive and control the vehicle without using jakes.........
It is just a habit formed/learned.........

Well good luck.....be careful...keep the rubber down..........

Jash as an O/O I will use the jakes any time I need to slow down. Even bob tail going up hill.


It saves on the expensive service brakes......... why wouldn't I use it?

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I had to learn to drive a truck without engine brakes. Most of the trucks I drive have them turned off. Some brand new ones don't even have them. The future emissions equipment is going to make them even quieter than they are now. The tricky ones are the automatics without engine brakes. It took me 3 month before I had to go through an area with a no engine brake policy, didn't bother me one bit since I was bobtailing through there. If I have to use one in aiding me to slow down I will use it. I will take the ticket with a grain of salt.

If yours is quiet, use it and don't worry about it. Nobody but another trucker will notice the sound of a quiet one. Like the others said, the law was enacted due to the loud-and-proud rejects who have 6" straight pipes and who will wake up not only entire neighborhoods but also entire trucks stops at night also.

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Z-Lady's devoted hubby.