The Starke County Commissioners reviewed a request to ban engine brakes on U.S. 421 through San Pierre.
Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler said he contacted INDOT concerning the request made by a San Pierre resident. According to INDOT officials, they believe that compression release brakes, or Jake brakes, aid in slowing semi trucks and signs limiting the use of the brakes will not be permitted on the INDOT right-of-way. However, signs warning motorists of a local noise ordinance pertaining to Jake brakes may be permitted.
There is not an ordinance for the unincorporated areas of the county while municipalities do have ordinances in effect. Ritzler said there are steps to take to include Jake brakes into a noise ordinance.
“There’s a couple of criteria you have to meet,” explained Ritzler. “You have to have a decibel level you want to hold it at and you have to have a device that measures that level. We would have to buy a device and put it out on U.S. 421 to do that.”
Ritzler said he will research the cost of the equipment needed to measure the decibels of Jake brakes and the placement of signs on U.S. 421. He will present more information to the commissioners in a future meeting.
