BARNESVILLE - The use of "Jake" brakes in Ryan Township will be prohibited in the near future as soon as an ordinance is adopted at the next supervisors meeting.
At Monday's meeting, residents aired their complaints about the loud method of slowing down a tractor-trailer.
A "Jake" brake, or Jacobs engine brake, is a compression release braking system on large diesel trucks that provides braking power beyond the normal braking system. While effective, the braking system makes a great deal of noise when operating.
Supervisor Champ Holman opened the floor to the public, knowing what the people wanted to talk about.
"I've lived at my home for 40 years and am used to the trucks making noise, but these 'Jake' brakes are taking it to another level," resident Robert Blue said. "I'm asking the supervisors for a ban on 'Jake' brakes, at least on Route 54 or in the whole township."
The major area of complaints is along the state highway near the base of Vulcan Mountain to the Ryan Township Fire Company. Resident Mark May, who has lived along the highway since 2008 and is a professional truck driver, also complained about the noise.
"There are a lot of trucks that go flying down - tri-axles, no mufflers, straight pipes," May said, requesting the restriction. He also said vehicles speed on the highway.
"People almost run you over and kill you on that road," May said. "So, if we get the 'Jake' brake restriction and we can get the police to ticket drivers, we can get the word out that you can't come flying down with your 'Jake' brake on and it would slow the trucks down."
Ioana White, who lives where the first group of homes are at the base of the mountain, said she has lost two pets in the last four weeks on the road, adding that it was too dangerous to safely retrieve one of the animals from the road due to the traffic conditions.
"There is nobody there going 40 miles an hour," White said. "And for us to get out of our driveway is impossible. It's an incredible safety risk."
Resident Peter Symons said there have been two fatalities not far from his home.
"In the 40 years I'm living there, there have been two people killed there, numerous accidents, poles knocked down, cars in the yard. It's getting ridiculous. Anybody who sits at our house can't get over how they speed down through there."
"There are two issues here - speeding and 'Jake' brakes," Holman said.
White expressed her fear for her children who must walk a distance to the bus stop. She had approached the Mahanoy Area School District about changing the stop to the front of her house.
"I tried to bring it up to the school district and they told me that to pick up the kids in front of the house is too dangerous," White said. "The school district told me that it's a town and police issue. So we drive our kids to school because it's too dangerous for them to walk."
Holman said that township solicitor Christopher Riedlinger, who could not attend the meeting, does have some model ordinances involving 'Jake' brake prohibitions. Holman offered a motion to advertise an ordinance to ban the use of 'Jake' brakes, with Supervisor Franklin Fetter making the second, followed by board Chairman David Morgan, Holman and Fetter voting in favor.
Increased enforcement of the speed limit will also happen to let drivers know that the township is enforcing the laws.