$300 fine for brake noise in Holyoke concerns truckers

After driving for 22 years with no Jake and traveling coast to coast and into Canada and not once been unable to stop at stop signs, lights or accidents, I believe that a Jake is a secondary safety device. One tool that is nice to have when needed and to make descending steep grades almost a must but, also, a tool that too many drivers would have problems driving down steep grades without. Can you drive without one and still be safe? Absolutely. In the article or comments that follow one driver wrote that you needed the Jake to stop at the intersection at the bottom of this hill. If the Jake is the only thing that is keeping you out of trouble descending this hill then you have failed to use the proper gear and brake usage when descending. Depending on the Jake to stop at the bottom of a hill is asking for trouble. I will refrain from commenting about adolescent drivers that need loud pipes on a truck.

 

I do believe that Data man covered everything perfectly!

 

Data Man hit the nail on the head. Also there is absolutely nowhere in the city of Holyoke where a jake brake is a necessity.

 

But there are places in NM where you are descending grades and on the highway they have the "no engine brake" sign......

I don't see how a city or town can enforce their ordinances on a Federal Highway.....

 

how can indiana do it then on I90 at the first toll both after the i94 junction.

 

I can't speak for all states but I have talked with State Troopers about this thing with the jake brake. A jake break is a safety device on a truck. You cannot, I repeat cannot restrict the use of the brake. Now that being said, you can have a noise ordinance. If the jake is installed from the factory and the mufflers correctly installed - cool. If you install the brake and/or replace the mufflers with straight pipes and the noise exceeds a certain level than the use can be restricted period. I believe Iowa went thru this a few years with all the towns and cities restricting jake brake use. The Iowa DOT notified them they couldn't do that, but they could enforce a noise ordinance. Missouri is the same. We have a small grade coming down into town. The city put up a "No Jake Break" sign. The Missouri DOT notified them they couldn't do that and told them to take the sign down. Sign came down. New sign reads "Noise Ordinance Enforced". I can't speak for all states but my son is a State Trooper and he told me exactly what I wrote above. You cannot restrict the use, but you can enforce a noise ordinance.

 

I will use my jakes at my discretion, I am the one operating the truck, it is up to me and I will not take judgment or second guesses from the likes of suits and 4 wheelers. I say that because I feel I use them at the right times.

I don't use my jakes at night time in any cities, or towns, or parking lots, ever. In the middle of the day, going through a major city, traffic volumes are so high, noise is nothing to be worried about. I use mine in the big cities all the time during daylight, my truck also has a stock exhaust being a company rocket, so it is actually isn't even noticeable really

Point being, save your brakes! Been in this truck a long time and it hasn't needed a brake job yet, and won't for a long time.

If one is responsible and intelligent with the use of a jake, I don't think it should be a problem.

 

Every body misses the whole point it's about the money if it was realy a noise issue they would go after the motorcycles and all the cars with there radios blasting that being said i use my jake brake as needed and no one is going to tell me when i can granted i won't use it in a city or town but on the highjway or in the country it's on and i've had trucks with out em and the extra brake life is worth there use speacialy when hauling heavy.

 

and any locality that has a sign that says specifically "no Jake brakes" is in trouble as that is a trademarked registered name of the Jacobs company.