BERKELEY – A way of slowing down large diesel vehicles called “engine braking” or “Jake braking” will be banned on all township roads.
A new ordinance would prohibit “the use or operation of any mechanical exhaust device designed to aid in the braking, decompression or deceleration of any motor vehicle which results in the excessive loud, unusual or explosive noise from such vehicle.”
Berkeley has Route 9 and the Garden State Parkway running through it, and residents have been complaining about large trucks going through residential neighborhoods to avoid high traffic roads or to get to the Parkway.
The colloquial “Jake braking” comes from Jacobs Vehicle Systems.
People find the sudden noise annoying, Business Administrator John Camera said, so the township is banning the practice.
The specific wording of the ordinance includes “It shall be unlawful for the driver of any motor vehicle to use or operate or cause to be used or operated, at any time and on any road within the Township of Berkeley, any mechanical exhaust or decompression device which results in the practice known as ‘engine-braking.’”
Someone who is guilty of this will be subject to a fine of not more than $100 and/or imprisonment for a period not to exceed 10 days. A second violation doubles the maximum fine to $200 and the possible imprisonment of up to 20 days. Any violations after that can incur a fine up to $500 and/or imprisonment up to six months.
Emergency vehicles would be excepted from this if used while saving people or property.
Salary Ordinances
In other news, two salary ordinances for existing positions were introduced.
The position of secretary will have a minimum salary of $30,000 and a maximum salary of $60,000.
The position of confidential secretary will have a minimum salary of $30,000 and a maximum salary of $80,000.
These salary ordinances – as well as the engine braking ordinance – were introduced at a recent Township Council meeting. An ordinance has a second reading at another meeting. If the council votes in favor of it then, it becomes law a number of days after.
The second readings for these ordinances are scheduled for the June 24 meeting which takes place at 6 p.m. at the town hall located at 627 Pinewald-Keswick Road.
