By By MARY-ALLISON LANCASTER – Managing Editor
East Brewton officials want commercial truck drivers to know their Jake Brakes are no longer welcome in town.
While the term &#8220Jake Brake” is commonly used to refer to engine brakes or compression release engine brakes, a Jake Brake is actually a particular brand of an engine brake manufactured and sold by Jacobs Vehicle Systems Inc.
Semi-trucks or large vehicles are often used when the trucks need to make a quick stop. However, the noise is becoming a nuisance in East Brewton, and officials called upon East Brewton Police Chief B.C. Cooper to find a way to resolve the issue.
Cooper was asked several weeks ago by council members to find a way to deter the use of the Jake Brake. During Monday's council meeting, Cooper said he checked several different places and wound up checking the city's ordinance and found it was in violation of the city's excessive noise ordinance.
The best way he could think to resolve the problem was to issue a warning to drivers found in violation, and &#8220hopefully the word will get around” among other truck drivers.
Mayor Terry Clark also touched base on the excessive misuse of recreational vehicles, particularly golf carts, which can sometimes be found roaming the highways. It is against the law to drive such vehicles along state highways.
Clark said he has received several complaints, at work and at home, regarding the misuse.
Clark said officers should issue a warning first and then issue a ticket for second-time violators. However, Cooper said his department may have to go a step further and town the vehicle in order to &#8220garner parent awareness.”
The item will be up for discussion at the next council meeting scheduled for June 26 at 5:30 p.m.