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Commissioners ask staff to study ‘unmuffled engine compression brakes’ signage and enforcement on NC‑158
Summary
A resident request prompted commissioners to ask staff to investigate whether the county should seek NCDOT sign installation and/or adopt a local ordinance to prohibit unmuffled engine compression brakes on a downhill segment of NC‑158; county staff said the county would be responsible for posting and enforcement if it moved forward.
Commissioners on Monday discussed a resident complaint about excessive truck noise on N.C. 158 and asked staff to investigate posting signs and the feasibility of local enforcement.
The county chair introduced a handout from the N.C. Department of Transportation and described complaints about truck noise on a downhill stretch near Walkertown. The chair noted the statute requiring vehicles to have proper mufflers and asked whether a county request to NCDOT to post signs was appropriate.
County staff and the county attorney explained the process. A county attorney noted that NCDOT will post signs only upon local request and that the county would need to pass an ordinance defining excessive noise from unmuffled engine compression brakes; the county would be responsible for paying for sign installation, maintenance and enforcement. The attorney said, “the first step would be the county would have to pass an ordinance prohibiting the excessive noise due to unmuffled engine compression breaks within whatever limits we establish.”
Commissioners asked whether enforcement would fall to the sheriff’s office and whether the posting should be county‑wide or limited to the specific downhill segment; several commissioners characterized the issue as warranting a feasibility study rather than immediate litigation or ordinance drafting. One commissioner said enforcement of mobile‑source noise is “notoriously difficult” but not impossible and supported a study.
Staff did not propose an ordinance at the briefing; commissioners asked staff to check with Walkertown and return with a feasibility analysis focused on signage, costs and enforcement options.
No ordinance was introduced or adopted at the briefing.
