A small city in Missouri has created a new law which prohibits truckers from using their jake brakes in certain areas. Truckers are used to seeing signs saying “engine braking prohibited,” but this city is taking it a step further. Any driver violating the new law could spend up to three months in prison.
Both I-64 and Highway 141 run through Chesterfield, a city of less than 50,000 people. The city has been receiving complaints from its citizens about the noise from the highways, specifically the “machine-gun like sound of jake brakes.”
The city’s police chief says that the brakes make a loud noise. He concedes that he doesn’t think truckers are using their jake brakes specifically in order to make the noise, just that “what we’re trying to encourage is to do it outside of a populated area such as Chesterfield.”
Signs will go up which makes it clear that “certain areas” will be no-noise zones. But those areas aren’t just the city center; they will be on the interstate as well.
Breaking that law will result in fines up to $500 and jail time up to 90 days.
City leaders say that they hope that once the word spreads about the new law, truckers will comply voluntarily and they won’t have to enforce it.
Source: livetrucking, cbsstlouis
379exhd says
Makes complete sense. Put a safety feature on a truck, but we won’t let you use it because some pencil pushing moron who has never driven a truck doesn’t like the noise. Here’s a perfect idea if you don’t want to listen to the noise from a highway or interstate…DONT BUY A HOUSE NEXT TO THE HIGHWAY OR INTERSTATE!!!
I can’t write the city a letter and ask them to put mufflers on the dirt track cars (not that I would anyway). Funny how a person complains about a Jake brake but you don’t hear much said about the annoying pack of Harley’s, or the moronic idiot with the straight piped mustang or pickup.
Flat out stupidity if you ask me.
Jeff Nesmith says
What else did you expect to happen, Driver? The one line in the article that said it all was that they thought Truckers were doing it deliberately to make noise.
Funny, when I’m running, I don’t want to set the Jake off unless I absolutely have to. It’s not there for noise; it’s there to slow the rig down to a safe speed.
I’m waiting for the first time they try to enforce this. It’ll be appealed, and then they’ll have to explain to a judge why they passed such a stupid law. A good transportation attorney will eat these clowns for lunch, and probably enjoy doing it.
In the meantime, maybe we should reconsider accepting loads to this locality. I mean, heaven forbid we should interrupt someone’s midafternoon siesta because we want to operate SAFELY!
Gordon A says
It really isn’t the Jake brakes at all but the wanna B’s that have the big 10″ exhaust straight pipes and want every one to know it that is creating the problem. Factory engines brakes are no where near as noisy as the unnecessary straight pipes are. It is the inconsiderate users of the loud engine brakes that are the problem.
I live in a small town of 900+. The grain haulers think that going 20 mph on a town street requires the use of an engine brake to slow for the turn into the elevator. The town fathers told the elevator owner to either tell the idiots drivers to not use the engine brake and they stop or the town will enact a ban and a fine of $350 first offense and double for each offense after that. Our town got really quiet after that.Did not cost anyone one thin dime. It is a shame that one has to beat over the head to be considerate for others.
DAVID Marlow Millingham says
I drove otr for many years. The only time it needs to be used is in mountainous areas and steep grades. You dont need it running at 5mph through a town. It doesn’t make you look cool just shows what a jerk you are!
Trucker against stupid laws says
Well if they didn’t like the noise they shouldn’t live near the road these city’s and people are getting ridiculous the jake brake is a safety tool try and throw me in prison for using it I will sue that city till it can’t afford to be a city anymore
agoo7 says
Now that my friend is something I would do with you. Yes what if one day we get as many drivers to do jake it all day in there town that way we all get paid or they will see things our way the right safe way. What if we just wont drop loads there at all. How about that.
Pollyanne says
What about just good old common respect for other’s that live in rural areas, and don’t want to hear that racket at all hours of day and night going up and down a road that is clearly posted 45 mph, no steep mountains, gentle curves, and basically all flat road. Are you that much of a non driving SOB that you need your jake brake for that? Turn in your license and get a job at McDonalds.🤬🤬🤬
Gordon A says
I agree they are a safety tool. However so many drivers don’t use it that way. They use it to get attention to them selves and are about as inconsiderate as one can get. The look at me here I am . I spent $1000ss of dollars to act like an idiot . looky looky here I come attitude. I am awake so every one else should be too mentality.There is a time and place to use it and 90% don’t do it in a considerate way.
Dave W says
I happen to sell heavy duty parts for a living. I pride myself on my vest knowledge in this industry! So I certainly know what a Jake is an what it’s used for. I have a property I bought with a ton of equity in it after 2 years. So it’s been a great investment. Yet I shouldn’t have purchased this home cause it’s near a highway? What about my neighbors who didn’t have a choice an the state took there land. An my windows rattle sometimes at all hours of the night waking my 4 yr old daughter up from some scumbag who don’t have enough common sense to slow the weight down until 20 feet before the rest stop??? How about follow the laws an think about how you would feel of it was your family?! DOT is making me wealthy an I won’t have to worry about the sound much longer anyway haha .. karma my friends! Karma!
Mike ! S. says
Sounds a bit harsh. I drove trucks for 22 years. The ONLY time I used the jake brake was when I was going down a mountain. I hear them quite often in urban areas, which is ridiculous and annoying. I think they feel it makes them sound “cool”.
Infosaur says
I use them in urban areas because it increases my response time. The minute I lift off the throttle the truck begins to brake. I might loose 5mph before my foot gets to the brake pedal.
You really need it in the Northeast where people think they can go from 80 in the left lane to 20 in the right lane for their exit in under a 1/4 mile. Across the nose of a semi of course.
Red says
There’s no judge in the country that would sentence a driver to any jail time for using an engine brake to help slow down. Yeah, it’s written in the law but littering has “jail time” too lol. Good headline though. I guess normal people just think we flip the “machine gun” sound effect switch on to be a prick? They were put on trucks for a reason and heck you can’t even hear them anymore on newer trucks. Must be a lot of old skool rolling thru that town
CJ HUMMAN says
ALL truck hauling goods into them A?? H??? towns should just STOP! Let them jerks get their goods some other way. Just another way to try and screw with us truckers that are trying to make a living and helping towns like this and others. Have a good day.
Pollyanne says
Most of you jackasses do. You have no respect whatsoever!! We just ask that you be a little considerate for those of us that don’t like the overuse of jake brakes. We are not against truckers, we are against the incessant and most times unnecessary use of jake brakes.
Michael says
I’m always heavy guess they want me to burn my breaks up so I can’t stop. Someone needs to wake up and stop passing fun laws.
Chad says
Old skool yes. 6″ straights yes. Loud as hell…Hell ya!! Guilty as charged, Lol, sorry Chesterfield.
Seriously though there’s a lot of construction recently in that area and dump trucks and some of the local trucks do make some noise above the level of newer equipment. But this law is straight assinine.
agoo7 says
Very true as well. My Frightliner jakebrake sound is so low all you hear is the turbo its not like the big petes that I also like and love. Its just that some people don’t like what they don’t understand. They’ll be ok.
Reese says
While I’m not a trucker, I live near an area with loads of trucks coming though, I saw everything from custom straight pipes and lowered semi trucks to loaned equipment. The interesting thing is that we have two roughly equally sized intersections that get the same amount of traffic, but one has a “No exessive engine braking” sign and the other doesn’t. As of today, from the start of 2020, we had 11 accidents at the normal intersection and 13 from the one with the sign. The normal intersection had 3 accidents involving large vehicles (including one with a front end loader) but the intersection with the sign had 7 accidents involving semi trucks. Both these intersections are close to residental zones but the majority of both people living in these neighborhoods don’t give a damn about the sound, even from the straight pipe showoffs. The one intersection that has the sign just happened to have one wealthy jerk of a family that thought the noise would discourage people from renting their properties which were nearby said intersection.
Jake says
No cure for stupid. This is ridiculous.
Jeremy says
I guess when trucks can’t slow down and the big rig accident rate skyrockets the town will change their tune.
DAVID Marlow Millingham says
I will bet a months pay that you didn’t use it on your driving test
Ricardo says
Better yet do not deliver any freight to this town. If they need toilet paper they can drive to next town for needs.
agoo7 says
You are reading my mind.
Barbara says
Stupid, all that’s wrong with the world and some jerks is going to complain about a Jake brake. They need to do without the things that these truckers deliver. All my family is truckers and that machine gun sound helps in saving their life when idiots pull in front of them or slams on brakes. Like the Bible says, people will gag a gnat and swallow a camel. PLEASE!!!!!!!
Chris says
I hope this doesn’t happen, but the town will change its tune when a driver ends up hitting a building, especially when the Jake brake would have help prevent it…
Chad says
It can’t, 64 is an interstate and 141 is a main route 3-4 lanes wide with a speed zone of 45 & 50 respectively, and about 10 stop lights. It’s a well to do area with a bunch of rich pricks with nothing else to do but bitch.
Douglas Kirk says
Why should a town have anything to say about what does or doesn’t happen on a freeway, which is neither built nor maintained by the city? The same kind of trick was tried years ago by Vail, Colorado. I was stopped by a city officer as I cam off the pass using the engine brake, which by the way was legally muffled from the factory. I asked why he stopped me and he said I was exceeding their noise limits. I was further informed that the limit was approximately at the level of noise made by the tires on the pavement…..what? Tires are too noisy? Anyway, he gave me a warning. I wrote a not very nice letter to the Vail city council, and have conducted a personal boycott of the Vail area. I refuse to even drive thru there, let alone spend a penny in their stupid town. In the meantime, the state of Colorado received many complaints over this and Vail was forced to back off.
Now, as an equal opportunity offender, I’m going to place the blame for these anti-jake crusades squarely on the responsible parties: the straight pipe crowd. If I had my way, every truck with straight pipes would be immediately placed out of service until factory-spec mufflers are installed. There’s absolutely no reason to be making enough noise to rattle windows just because you think noise is cool. It isn’t, and it never will be…….rant over
David Hostetler says
i almost never use jakes. Its loud & rude & annoying. Only in very mountainous areas. If truckers drove right, jakes would not be necessary.
me says
How incredibly thoughtful… thanks for thinking of others.
Thomas Scaffidi says
10-4
Sam says
Jake Brakes are MEANT to help you drive correctly! They are designed to slow the vehicle down so you don’t have to use so much manual braking. And don’t give me that “oh you can slow down just as well without it” crap. Ever gone down Monteagle in Tennessee? The Jakes do a significant job for you and drastically reduces how much you’re on the air brakes. But for real.. if you don’t like the sound of a good old loud beautiful Jake, a TRUE Jacobs brake, you must not even be a true born trucker..
Marty mcfly says
You are all morons, I’ll come make noise while you’re sleeping and watch you change your tune.
TJ says
Swift. Go figure.
Rob S. says
I have to disagree with you David…..Jake brakes are very necessary. I live and haul in the mountains, and drive by my jake. In my opinion, if you are a good driver you can drive on your jake alone and never use your air brakes. Engine brakes are exactly that – a brake. It is an excellent form of slowing a truck down, and when used properly, very effective.
All of the loud trucks on the road today have been modified, it would make more sense for this little town to make it mandatory to have the decibel level read on the truck in question, and then fine accordingly if they wish.
I would take the whole thing to a judge and get his opinion on ‘not’ using a form of ‘brake’ on a commercial truck. I bet he has a different answer for that town.
Lord belve says
I definitely rarely use my service break I drive off of my jake
Paul says
What do you haul? Feathers? I am a heavy haul guy and my truck has well over 500,000 miles with the original brakes….must be b cause if that loud obnoxious switch on the dash!
Marion D. Hunt says
Will they also throw Harley Davidson owners in jail for violation of the no noise zones? I ask because they are louder than 90% of the trucks going through there running their engine brakes.
Will says
So the city is going to pay for brake repairs and lost wages due to shop times I don’t think so it’s an interstate you don’t like the noise move away from the interstate problem solved
Steven says
Simple solution dont deliver to this whiny hillbilly town first no meds or food is delivered they will back off
Lobo says
Actually Chesterfield Missouri us a very well-to-do suburb, west of St. Louis, and only because of that is the police chief responding to it’s deep-pocketed constituency.
It’s times like these (and only times like these) that I wish the trucking industry was unionized and under one umbrella, so the leaders of said union could put out the word: No pickups or deliveries to this town, or any within a 25 mile radius, until this wonderful new law is nothing but a bad dream.
Wouldn’t take a week.
Johnny Sponar says
Chesterfield is one of the nicest and wealthiest cities in MO, nice try with your “hillbilly” remark
michael says
The city I live in tried that,but fount out they couldn’t do that.the city attorney researched it and the city council that they had to take the signs down,because it was made into law for trucks to have “Jakes Brakes” ,to help slow trucks down to keep from burning up their brakes.so that town better investigate further before they have lawsuits coming their way.
Max says
You all miss the point.
The city council got tired of the complaints so they passed the law to get voters off their backs.
End of story. No one expects this to be enforced (except naïve voters)
Jimmy Collins says
Drivers think the sound of those pipes are cool. Just like that 4 foot gear shift. But, they can do whatever they want. It’s a free country. It’s just not me!
John says
It’s the “Billy Big Rig” guys who think that the louder their Jake’s, the cooler they are that cause all these anti-Jake brake ordinances. The same guy who will run thru a truck stop at high rpm and use his Jakes. Modern trucks have become so much quieter when the Jakes are in use as to hardly even be noticed anymore compared to standard exhaust systems of 10yrs ago. If these show-off would have respect for others when and where not to use them, the rest of us wouldn’t be under the gun for their behavior.
Johnny Sponar says
Exactly
Brent says
You’re not just a little bit jealous are you?
Felix says
You got to be pulling. My leg to tell me not to use a safety. Devices. When some one get kill we know who to blame
Ever one will blame the driver but we know better
TJ says
Exactly. Some people want to run people I think for the ego of saying they can. It’s certainly not thought out and in many cases should be squelched out for the good and safety of the people.
Bill J says
Sniff a set of cheeks.
Mike Stewart says
They can pass all the laws they like but here is the problem for them…they have to PROVE it was you and your truck making the noise! They have to have you on video and audio recording in order to give you the ticket and make it stick. Not going to happen!
Enough of the BS already!
Bart Youngblood says
If you drive past a cop with your unmuffled engine brake, that’s all the proof they need. He/she just became a witness.
Jimmie says
As an o-op, it’ll be a cold day in hell before I’d ever take a load there again, even though I’ve got a quiet, stock exhaust. These dumb “Boss Hogg” types only understand and grub for one thing – $$. Good luck getting those groceries.
Mab1 says
I understand the law if in the city but also on the interstate now that’s crazy. Some might disagree but the sound of Jake’s is what made me as a little kid want to start trucking it was the coolest thing to me . But to say that you your going to jail for the use of a safety device what is this world coming to.
Jim says
Using them when needed as a safety device isnt the issue, it’s the drivers who drive with them on all the time that create problems. I hear them at zero dark thirty in the parking lots of truckstops. If you cant make it to the fuel island without your jakes your doing it wrong.
Bikers like the saying ‘Loud pipes save lives’ but in the real world … as we see in this case … ‘Loud pipes generate legislation’.
Donald Nederhoff says
Jake Brake is on a truck for safety reasons. It helps to slow down the truck by preventing the brakesystem from getting hot and decrease wear. It is the younger generation that thinks it is COOL to have a loud truck. Make the trucks get legal exhaust systems and the problem will be solved. If you have NEVER driven a truck DO NOT act like you know what you are talking about.
Anthony says
Doesn’t take a genius to figure out that this law was created based on an emotionally charged argument…A lot of towns have these ordinances…For the most part those towns are on flat ground, and jakes aren’t necessary…I just think it’s time for the drivers of this industry to target a state, city or town, and boycott it…No deliveries or pick ups…Don’t buy fuel in the state if you can avoid it…Don’t buy anything!!! Truckers did this back in the ’70’s…They boycotted the state of Indiana…The market place determined what happened after that…Companies that were effected contacted the governor and soon after that the state changed the law that effected big rigs.
Brent says
Boy I sure wish we would I’m an owner operator you count me in.
James says
A town in Georgia near Macon tried to band trucks and drivers said good we won’t deliver any goods to you. Stupid nonsense laws need to Stop. Same citizens who started this mess are the same ones who cut drivers off & cut over to not miss the exit .
Santiago says
I’ll Stop using my Jake’s when the prices of brake is cut in half & 4 wheelers stop jumping in front of my truck to make a quick turn….
My brakes last FOREVER!
Jon says
The new Auto-stick trucks have the Engine braking built in.
They also have a MUFFLER !
Unlike those Big Old double stack Pipe rigs.
Let us hope that the Cops only target the loud ones and stop there.
D says
I love my Double Pipe making….Stacks while you are in the shop….
Wendall says
What about the exhaust on motorcycles and cars and pickups that are way louder than a lot the engine brakes out there?
Bittytheknightrider says
First of all it’s not a free country Jimmy, and the only thing that makes sense is for this town to ups or fedx square box deliver to them or pick up their junk from the nearest town on horse back
Opening eyes says
Is it even Constitutional to put a citizen in jail for a law that does not cause a danger to others? If none else, its oppression.
Isn’t it Russia, China, Cuba, and North Korea who put their citizens in jails for breaking a law that’s merely a nuisance?
This is going to continue because we don’t fight back. Our insurance just informed us that Michigan is going to target drivers who have a cell phone mounted on the dash, windshield, or within reach, and a Bluetooth not be currently connected. The law states no handheld use, not that the handheld can not be in hands reach.
More and more we are being oppressed with draconian laws, and unduly charged for “crimes” to which we don’t have laws for. When I see that states have over a 1000 highway deaths, it’s not the trucks that’s involved with the majority of those deaths.
Welcome to the USS America
Chuck says
To answer your first question regarding the Constitutionality of imprisoning someone for a “victimless crime,” the short answer is yes, it is Constitutional. The Constitution does not expressly address the subject. If it isn’t addressed, and expressly prohibited, it is Constitutional. A prime example of such is drug possession laws. You can argue until you are blue in the face, but if you are caught with even a tiny amount of certain drugs, heroin for example, you are going to do time.
While I do not disagree with the sentiment of your post, that is to say, I don’t believe that victimless crimes should be an imprisonable offence, the fact remains that they are.
As to charging people with a crime where no law exists, this is patently illegal. A law must exist in order for an offence to occur. If you are ever charged with a crime, and have absolute knowledge that no such law exists, be polite, be cooperative, and the contact an attorney and have the officers involved charged with “official oppression” and federal civil rights violations.
The first step in fighting against illegal actions and oppression is to know your rights and responsibilities under the law!
Big Don says
I have got to wonder if the “powers that be” in this town will be quite as eager to stop the noise of their local people who drive with a noisy glass pack muffler, or turn their car stereos up way past the threshold of pain.
Bill Lee says
Im tempted to go there so I can get a ticket. Im in the mood to fight and make case law getting rid of these laws. Any good lawyer could defend having to brake suddenly and justify throwing this switch on. It would be great to challenge these bastards!
Rob says
All that effort only to prove you can’t operate your rig without a jake brake on flat ground?
Mark A Stalling says
Driver know they can hurt this country,but we are so afraid we might lose that we have too get out that truck for awhile.we can make a change in some are all these laws by striking like everyone else do. trucking is gone
T Vadear says
The new breed of drivers must think that they are unable to stop without a jake. And you really think that there will be more wrecks because a driver will be unable to use their jakes? Our truck driving schools must really be failing to educate drivers on how to drive safely. If drivers with loud jake brakes had any common sense at all they would not use their jakes within city limits and especially at night when people are trying to sleep. Common sense is not very common among truck drivers.
Todd Shaw says
Also, what is not reported is that Chesterfield, MO is a high-end, white collar, and a suburban shopping center Mecca. As mentioned previously, Chesterfield is a suburb. It is located outside of St. Louis and it is completely land locked by other mega suburbs. As a result, those of us that deliver, fuel, or pass through this “better than thou,” town, to abide by this ordinance would be near impossible. Because, as we are driving through the area and exits are going by every quarter mile, it comes down to, not accidentally use one out of Chesterfield’s three exit ramps; out of the countless exit ramps going by. Even worse, if I happen to be in the the three mile track of interstate that just happens to be in the Chesterfield city limits and a four-wheeler cuts in front of me and I have to slow down, in order to not accidently kill everyone in that four-wheeler. My reward for being a responsible driver, is three months in their jail. Thank you!
Phil Casey says
Don’t sign the ticket. Tell them you want to see the Judge. When you refuse the second time they will arrest you. Once you are under arrest refuse to drive the truck. Hand them the keys @ tell them you will not drive the truck for them while under arrest. If you are hauling livestock or haz mat materials, (or any explosive placard) they will think long & twice about the arrest & seizure of your equipment. 30 years ago that same story happened on the Indiana Toll Road. The county sheriff towed the tractor & Refer Trailer to the nearest truck stop & forgot about it. 15 months later the county & the state of Indiana paid the owner operator about 168,000 bucks for the lost load & a new tractor. All over a log book violation. The wrecker driver damaged the frame rails when pulling the whole unit to the Union 76 TS @ I-69 & the toll road. His case was upheld in the Indiana Appellate Court. They ruled once he was in custody he did not have to drive his rig to the truck stop & the county was responsible for his equipment until he was released or they could release the equipment back to him or a representative.
Not saying this would happen again, but it is your duty to challenge any LE when you know they are wrong or miss treating you. Make them look like the bad guy. Not you.
Richard A. says
Engine brakes have a time and place. People DON’T need to use them all the time, everywhere. I pull a 138,000 lb fuel tanker train, but I turn off the jakes when doing deliveries in the city. Most of our city customers are in commercial and residential areas with 30 mph speed limits, not on the outskirts of the city.
We get enough dirty looks for just being in those neighbourhoods, certainly don’t need to add fuel to the fire (pardon the pun) by announcing our presence by creating more unnecessary noise. Even though most of our tractors are new Mack autoshifts with an ultra quiet brake.
Highway and hills are a different story of course. If you live on side of a busy highway don’t expect trucks to not use the jake. Don’t like it? Don’t live on the side of a highway. As someone else stated, why aren’t 4 wheelers ticketed for the ‘performance’ exhausts on their ricer sports cars, pickups, and motorbikes? Most of them are WAY, WAY louder than the average jake, and they serve NO safety purpose whatsoever.
These are the guys that give the rest of us a bad name:
About ten years ago, early on a Saturday morning, some jackass driving bobtail rolled all the way down the street to the stop sign (about 3 blocks), downshifting and splitting every gear (13 or 18 speed), with straight pipes and jakes rattling away. Sorry, these guys are A**holes with a capital a.
Double Trouble says
That means that every time the fire department goes on a run they could go to jail and be fined. The National Fire Protection Agency requires jake breaks on ALL pampers tankers and so on and they are to be used
Greg Goble says
I know this place: I64 and ramp to RT 141 in Chesterfield
Interstate 64 just before to 141 ramp is a down grade causing you to let off the throttle and start braking slightly, even more so if your taking the turn off ramp.
I mean what are you suppose to do? In bad weather it makes sense to use the engine retarder(Jake Brake is a brand name for Jacolb’s engine brake) to help slow down from highway speeds. On the other side of the coin I know some of the engine brakes are worn out and very loud and should be given a citation to get replaced. Replaced not give a guy a fine and or jail time for a defective piece of equipment that most likely he does not even own or have a say in.
Beacon Transport says
I wonder what they think of Harleys in a convoy? Just about the revenue, LOL, don’t they know if they write Semi Trucks tickets the money goes to the State of Missouri not the city of Chesterfield? Trucks are under the States Jurisdiction.
Bruce Campbell says
It’s not about revenue, it’s about Chesterfield city council members appeasing voters. Whether this “law” gets enforced depends on the character of the police chief. I would be tempted to test it out of principal.
Seargent Saunders says
People can make up whatever excuse they want but the use of a engine retarder can be used PROPERLY, or it can be used just to “show off” because some alleged “adult” has some sort of mental unbalance in which he feels the need to have people look at him/her. We see it ALL THE TIME with kids in cars. How about people using them in a truck stop in the middle of the night? If you’re driving thru a town, you shouldn’t be going so fast that you need to use more than a foot brake to slow down! Before some of you respond by claiming I’m not a driver, let me save you the effort. I have 20+ years on the road with OTR, LTL and Specialized. I’ve never had the need to use an engine retarder in any city setting.
randy l boan says
I think we all know why these ordinances have been going up in the last 20 years all over the country.I used to live near a highway intersection that had a about a 2% grade coming to it from 2 sides.The trucks coming to the intersection about 98% of the time you would never notice them, then there would be that one with the straight pipes using the jake and going through every gear.I agree it should just be a noise ordinance then the ones using a mufflerd jake would be ok. The other thing is as I am a former law enforcement,I don’t know how you would prove the driver was using the jake unless they told you they were.
darrin jones says
Put a lower speed limit in those areas to slow the truck before the no thake break zone. Then the truckers won’t need to go ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba so close to the city. Or put up tall shrubbery to dampen the noise.
Jay says
Truck no longer have to have unmuffled jakes,my truck’s jakes are strong,yet,undetectable to the untrained ear,I don t object to the law,I ve heard enough loud jakes activated by idiots in a truck stop parking lot,I have no problem with the law whatsoever,learn to drive and you will never use the jakes within any city limit…more power to them,now if we could only give those drivers a dose of common sense,put a working brain in their hollow head.
Bill Smith says
It’s not the Jake that’s the problem…it the idiot driver that modifies his equipment to make it sound ” Cool” .
The law should not say ” no engine braking” but they should enforce a noise level requirement that allows for factory equipment to be used and is they catch a truck with loud pipes then impound the truck till it repaired back to original specs.
Bill says
Gee, are they going to outlaw the old farm trucks and all the equipment that have the old 238 Detroit “screamers”? They were louder going down the road then 90% of the Jakes out there. Not to mention a gallon of oil a day.
Disavowed trucker says
Look it is the law that we have and use them. A federal law. The worst thing they can do is put it on your DAC report saying you were driving unsafe.
NickB says
Michael has got it right it is illegal to restrict a braking device on a CMV. A town near me also took down its signs after a trucker from 800 miles away showed up in court to fight his $150 fine . Sadly many towns get away with it because it is often cheaper for the driver to pay the fine then loose the time traveling to fight it
Len says
Straightpipes are the real problem.
Lol. If you put all of these drivers in room together they would fight until only one was left alive.
Rob F says
I’ve been driving for going on 30 years. Never used the jake brake unless absolutely necessary. I live about 1/2 mile from an off-ramp and I cannot sit peacefully on my deck without some moron using his jake on the off-ramp. I applaud any restriction on their use just to slow down under every circumstance. Yes, it goes the same for the bikers with loud pipes. Try living in Milwaukee during some rally of the inconsiderate boobs.
Tim says
If they ever throw me in the can there I’m lighting up a Chesterfield.
Dave says
I’m sure Rob’s truck has much higher brake replacement schedule than one who uses the jake regular. I live in the mountains, have had truck brakes fail on me going down a mountain with T cross road at bottom. That is definitely not something I’m willing to ever let happen again, ain’t no fun. It was an old gas strait truck made in the 60’s. I managed to gear down enough to prevent excessive speed and then managed to knock the stop sign off the post pulling the corner hard, fortunately no one was in the way at the corner. Such experience and more makes me very aware of break safety and use the jake as much as can be used to limit friction brake use to a minimum. And I like the good muffler to limit it’s noise to not disturb the nit pickin folks. I’d say just use yer jake when needed and forget the laws, they were made just to satisfy some people who make themselves a pain by trying to create a perfect environment for themselves where perfection will never exist. I’d rather put up with a lot of extra noise than risk any extra accidents such as rearenders due to jakes shut off. They go to work the instant the throttle is released and help slow the truck faster than the foot brake alone, that will save a few of those cutoff drivers from being rearended, where an instant of time and a few feet could make the difference between an injury and nothing.
Rob F says
Hey Dave! If I lived in a mountainous area, I’d use ’em. I don’t knock anyone that uses them properly but I live in Wisconsin and they’re not needed around my house….
MrNA says
Chesterfield can do us all a favor and recognize what an un-muffled truck is. Jakes are not the problem.
Michael Orourke says
Put a lid on the trash trucks that at 4 am r wakeing u up stupid people I swear the gene pool is getting dummer every day
duhfault says
A driver cannot help but adore the perspective of professional steering agents unembarrassed to admit their skills are of a degree that maintaining control of their rig/avoiding crashing is highly questionable w/o use of an engine brake in the mountainous state of Missouri.
Bruce Campbell says
You’re trying way too hard.
charles armstrong says
I’m sure there is already a noise ordinance on the books.
These people don’t seem to mind the loud pipes on their toy Harleys, which are just as loud as straight pipes with jakes.
What about trucks that aren’t loud with the jakes? Will the driver go to jail? With my new trucks you hardly hear the compression brakes.
Seems like another stupid law for stupid people, JUST ENFORCE THE NOISE ORDINANCE! No need to create another stinking rule that an officer can screw you with.
Bill Remington says
All you drivers have to do is file a class action lawsuit against the town for violating you safety.
Bill Remington says
when are we all going to learn. That us drivers need to get together (Team Up and Fight Back) on some things.
Jason Kane says
While there are a lot of drivers that just love to have the jake roaring whenever possible, Im guessing that isn’t the real problem here. How close exactly are these houses to the interstate? Are there sound walls installed?
My house is literally thirty FEET from a US highway that sees plenty of truck traffic. And I’m right on a sizeable hill–and by sizeable I mean going down without the jake while loaded is not a good idea if you value your brakes. I never notice anyone’s jake brake when I’m inside the house. In fact, I sleep during the day, in the bedroom closest to the road, but have yet to be woken up by any traffic noise.
FRANK PACK says
I wonder if the city ever thought about why the jakes came on when they did. Figgures it would be in the south.
Shine says
Has anyone else bothered to look up the geography of Chesterfield Missouri? I couldn’t find a reason to use a jake brake there. Chesterfield is also known as the ‘gumbo flats’. Wide, flat, open, boring. Additional facts can make a big difference.
Paul says
If you get one, fight it. I beat one in Utah. By mail and on the telephone. Yup, many Courts now have Court by phone, ask for it, or an alternative. Here’s how I did it…
1. I showed that my truck was “approved for operation on all roads, including, but not limited to, State highways and Interstate Highways” , which include all STAA routes whether County, City, or wherever, by the presence of a regulatory label, authorized by FMSCA, DOT, and NTHSA, and permanently affixed to my truck. Every truck has one. As my truck had all of the components it was built with, i.e. exhaust and muffling system, it was in compliance with Federal code and, therefore, legal in all jurisdictions in the US, Canada and, Mexico.
2. Asking for the basis, (legal definition and Code of Law) and resources relative to the Federal Regulations authorizing such action.
3. I asked questions, such as…If this is a “noise” ordinance, what is your City’s legal definition of too loud? How is it technically enforced?
2. If it is a “public nuisance” law, was there a public vote offered, and was a public notice published to all applicable parties? If so, where, and for how long was it posted?
3. Then I agreed that “some” trucks were, IMO, too loud. That already on-the-books laws were not being adhered to, nor were they being enforced. I suggested that they conduct some science based testing, to determine appropriate sound levels, post and enforce them. After all, just saying it’s too loud, is tantamount to asking “how long is a piece of string”.
4. The judge thanked me, and dismissed the ticket.
Cropo says
When I see them sines saying no jake brakes I really make some noise then