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Snoqualmie committee sends compression-brake ordinance to council, proposes $250 fine
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Summary
The Public Safety Committee on March 16 agreed to forward AB26-005, which would modernize the city—s compression-brake rules, define prohibited use, add signage language, and raise the fine from $50 to $250; police said officers must observe violations and will request State Patrol help.
The Snoqualmie Public Safety Committee on March 16 agreed to forward AB26-005 to the full City Council, a proposed ordinance that would repeal and replace chapter 10.24 of the Snoqualmie Municipal Code to update how engine compression brakes (often called "Jake brakes") are defined and enforced.
Interim Chief Gary Hirase told the committee the city has received multiple complaints about compression brakes along the Parkway and SR-202 and that the ordinance would explicitly define "engine compression brake" and "motor vehicle," prohibit compression-brake use in the city, add language about signage the city already posts, and raise the penalty from $50 under the 1986 code to $250. "We're asking to update that with the ordinance that's been presented before you...which...describes when it shall be used, which we're saying it shall not be used in the city," Hirase said.
City Attorney Dina Burke noted a minor typographical correction in section 3 of the draft and recommended fixing the clause about "ordinance, section, or subsection numbering" before the bill moves forward. Committee Chair Rob Wotton accepted the technical amendment.
Several council members questioned how officers would enforce a compression-brake ban. Hirase said enforcement requires an officer to observe the violation in person and that officers have been instructed to focus enforcement along the Parkway. He also said the department has reached out to the Washington State Patrol commercial motor vehicle division to provide assistance in the corridor. Hirase described officer discretion on enforcement and said outreach to local trucking companies has begun as a complementary step.
The committee agreed, by unanimous consent and hearing no objection, to place AB26-005 on the council calendar for the regular two-reading process. No final council vote occurred in committee; the ordinance will next be considered by the full City Council.
Background and next steps: the current city compression-brake ordinance dates to 1986, the draft would update definitions and add signage language to support prosecution, and the proposed fine increase reflects contemporary local practice, according to staff. The bill will appear on the full council agenda for further consideration.
