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Commissioners consider options after complaints about loud compression brakes on Appisson Pike
Summary
Commissioner raised complaints about trucks using compression brakes without mufflers on Appisson Pike near bus stops. Staff said city code already prohibits faulty mufflers and suggested options include posting signage, pursuing an ordinance or coordinating with state enforcement.
A commissioner asked staff to address frequent use of compression (engine) brakes by heavy trucks on Appisson Pike, which residents and commissioners said is jarring near several bus stops and pedestrian routes.
Commissioner concerns: The commissioner described repeated incidents in which trucks use compression brakes without mufflers, producing loud blasts that alarm schoolchildren and pedestrians near the Appisson Pike bus stops. "It scares them to death when a truck is coming down Appisson Pike and does their brakes," the commissioner said.
Staff and legal context: Staff noted the city’s existing noise and muffler provisions and said a class C misdemeanor or state-level charge could apply in some cases, but enforcement generally requires witnessing the violation by an officer. Staff suggested cities can request highway-noise signage from TDOT and that adopting a local ordinance is an option; a state charge provides another enforcement path. Commissioners asked staff to draft an approach—options included new signage, ordinance language or coordination with state highway enforcement.
Outcome and next steps: Commissioners directed staff to research ordinance language, signage requests to TDOT, and practical enforcement options and to follow up with a proposed enforcement path and draft ordinance language for future consideration.
