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East Rockhill board adopts ordinance banning brake retarders on stretch of North Rockhill Road
Summary
After a public hearing, the East Rockhill Township Board of Supervisors adopted Ordinance 291 prohibiting the use of brake retarders on North Rockhill Road between Muskrat Road and Quarry Road; PennDOT excluded steeper sections from the restriction for safety reasons. The ordinance passed unanimously.
The East Rockhill Township Board of Supervisors adopted Ordinance 291 on Feb. 26, 2019, prohibiting use of brake retarders (commonly called "jake brakes") on a portion of North Rockhill Road between Muskrat Road and Quarry Road following a public hearing and public comment.
The measure, added as Section 15‑219 to Chapter 15, Part 2 of the Township Code of Ordinances, was proposed by Township Solicitor John B. Rice during the Solicitor’s report and discussed at length during the hearing. Solicitor Rice said portions of an originally broader request were not approved by PennDOT because a downhill grade exceeded 4 percent, and those steeper segments were therefore excluded from the ordinance.
Residents who live near Bethel Baptist Church and along North Rockhill Road testified at the hearing about noise and safety concerns. A resident asked about the size of the penalty; the meeting record notes the motor vehicle code allows a base penalty of $25 and Sergeant Maloney said additional charges can raise a violator’s total to about $100 or more depending on related violations. Several residents asked the township to consider additional traffic studies or signage near the church; township staff noted PennDOT standards govern school‑zone and related approvals and that some older school‑zone postings are grandfathered.
On a motion by Chair Gary Volovnik, seconded by Member Jim Nietupski, the board voted to adopt Ordinance 291 with the maximum penalty permitted by law; all present voted in favor. The ordinance applies only to the segments that PennDOT approved for restriction; the township will post and publish the ordinance and update signage in coordination with PennDOT and local enforcement.
The adoption follows public comment and a Solicitor update that the township had recently testified in federal court about separate zoning litigation; the board said it would post any court decision to the township website once issued.
What happens next: the ordinance will be recorded in the township code and enforcement will be carried out by Pennridge Regional Police and other enforcement agencies as appropriate. The board did not take further action on broader speed changes or additional restrictions at this meeting.
