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Committee sends Jake‑brake ordinance back for first‑responder and highway review
Summary
Committee members agreed to return a proposed ordinance limiting use of engine/exhaust brakes ("Jake brakes") to obtain clarifications from first responders and the highway commission, citing signage, enforcement and safety questions.
The Executive/Steering Committee voted to send the proposed ordinance restricting engine-exhaust ("Jake") brakes back to the first‑responders committee and to the highway commission for clarification.
Committee members raised questions about enforcement, the precise wording of signage at the city limits and exemptions for emergency or hill‑descent situations. One commissioner said the ordinance as written lacked the recommendation from law‑enforcement stakeholders and should return with that input. Another member noted the ordinance includes an emergency exemption “so in case of emergency, you're not gonna be ticketed,” and expressed concern about hill locations where engine braking may be needed to slow heavy vehicles.
Members discussed where signage should be posted (near the bridge marking the city limit) and whether the ordinance language should reference “urban services” or metro boundaries. A motion was made to send the item back to the first‑responders committee for a recommendation; members also said the highway commission should check signage language. The motion passed and the committee recorded that the ordinance should return with clearer recommendations from those committees.
The committee did not adopt new enforcement language or a final ordinance at the meeting; members asked staff to obtain law‑enforcement input and clearer sign‑wording before resubmission.
