Bluff council to pursue standalone ban on compression-release ("Jake") braking, defers parking changes

The Bluff Town Council at its Aug. 12 work session directed staff to extract a standalone ordinance outlawing compression-release, or "Jake," braking on local thoroughfares while postponing broader no-parking changes that would require UDOT review.

The discussion began when a council member raised complaints about noise and prolonged truck idling along Highway 191 and in commercial areas. "The no Jake breaking is enforceable by the highway patrol and the deputies with just signage and an ordinance," a council member said, and the Chair indicated support for a targeted ban.

Councilors spent much of the discussion clarifying scope. One member objected to earlier language that singled out trucks carrying a particular commodity, arguing "if we're going to say no idling of semis, we say no idling of semis, period, regardless of what type they are." Another member flagged concerns about refrigerated ("reefer") trucks that may need to run engines to preserve cargo and asked whether designated parking or exceptions would be needed.

Staff warned that parking restrictions on state highways would trigger UDOT’s Traffic Engineering Order process and that town rules must comply with state limits on regulating unattended vehicle idling. A staff member noted prior planning documents were focused on hazardous-materials routes and would require reworking for a townwide, vehicle-type-neutral rule.

Members cited Moab as an example where local rules limit parking and idling (a five-minute limit was discussed in the meeting), but they repeatedly returned to enforceability: "By the time you have enforcement down, are people gone anyway?" one member asked. Several councilors said signage plus a short, focused ordinance would be the most practicable first step.

The council agreed to remove broader noise- and parking-related language from the draft and asked staff to rework a single-purpose Jake-brake ordinance for consideration at a later meeting. Staff also was asked to consult with UDOT on whether parking restrictions along Highway 191 fall under the state's authority and what steps (including a TEO) the town must take.

Next steps: staff will redraft a focused Jake-brake ordinance and return it to the council for action; broader parking-zone changes will be revisited after UDOT guidance and additional planning review.