Stop lamps and Jake brakes

I found this info posted by a technician when searching for any laws regulating this...

"if you go to California, Illinois, or Colorado you can't have it disabled. The shop won't do it while the truck is under contract and warranty. Those states and Canada require that feature on all 2015 models and newer. It's a safety feature that they have implemented in their transportation bills.

We get asked that often and this is the information told to us and what pops up on our screens when we try to change the parameter."
(Kenworth T680. When I engage the jake brake, the brake).

I frankly don't really care enough to go searching state transportation bills to verify this but it dose seem that I started seeing this around 2015.

 

Just an FYI.

Yes a few states have said it is required but that is for instate sales.

There are a few regulations covering it, they don’t say it can’t be done by the way, but no laws on the federal level that govern it.

It isn’t illegal and I would like to see what court cases the op is talking about.

It can be turned off, I won’t say how but it has to go through the manufacturers software.

 

I'm still trying to get past the 86 Mack putting todays Jakes to shame part. He definitely cant be talking about a dynatard.

 

Hmmm...odd. I actually agree with Ridgeline, LOL.
I think the OP and a few others who thought they knew what they were talking about are long gone....or they are still taking a nap at the fuel island.

 

On my 2019 T680 brake lights come on with the jakes. I've had other drivers call me on the radio several times as I go down a grade telling me I should let off my brakes before they overheat. I have to tell them that it's my jakes.

 

There's millions of truckers that don't know.

I thought burning up the brakes, too, till this forum mentioned it.

 

Got mine turned off on a 2020 Kenworth, all I had to do was ask my home dealership to do it. I live in Colorado and bought the truck in Colorado.

 

When you think about it, brake lights coming in with the Jake brake makes perfect sense.
The lights are called brake lights, not stop lights. The Jake is a brake and used to slow the vehicle down and that’s really when the brake light should come on. Blue hairs ride the brake all day long and the brake light is on.
I didn’t know the law and but stated I didn’t know the law as well. But I was confident that an OEM would not put a product out there that does not conform to the law and arguably is a safety issue.
Classic case of always considering the source I guess because there were a few folks who posted that they knew it was absolutely illegal!

 

I can see your point but the most common use of jake brakes (IMHO) is to maintain a given speed on a downhill, not to actually slow the vehicle.

I personally would not want the brake lights activated by jakes in the mountains. On flatter ground I could see it but it's not like jakes are going to give you the sudden deceleration that the service brakes will so I don't really see this as any real benefit.

 

I think it’s confusing and irritating to traffic behind you. I know l will be on my toes at first when I come up behind a newer truck that flashes its brake lights everytime the cruise slows it down or the driver wiggles his toe on the fuel peddle and causes the truck to slow a bit. Seen it dozens of times in a few miles on flat lands.
But after awhile its like its crying wolf and you start to ignore it cause the truck isn’t slowing. Than when it does LOOK OUT!
I think it should only work if it senses an actual change in g-force not a slight coast or holding mode.