DIXFIELD — Police chief Richard Pickett informed the Board of Selectmen on Monday evening that the June 23 vote to place two signs on Route 2 prohibiting the use of engine brakes from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. was not enforceable.
Last month, selectmen began discussing whether to prohibit engine brake use during specific times. Police Chief Richard Pickett said he received complaints from residents about the excessive use of Jake brakes by tractor-trailer truck drivers.
The board voted June 23 to place two signs on Route 2 near Holman Corner, prohibiting the use of engine brakes on that section of road from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.
Pickett said that he received a letter from the Maine Department of Transportation that the signs would not be enforceable as an ordinance sign, and that he and the Board of Selectmen were “not interested in creating another ordinance.”
During Monday’s board meeting, Selectman Hart Daley said that he sympathized with the residents who were having issues, but didn’t “want to see us do something that’s unenforceable.”
Pickett said Thursday that in lieu of putting up advisory signs in the problem areas, the police department is “opting to deal with the problem by cracking down on tractor-trailers driving with inadequate or altered exhaust systems.”
“We’ll be monitoring them and pulling over any trucks that are not in compliance,” Pickett said.
Pickett added that the Dixfield Police Department is “not interested in writing tickets for anybody.”
“The main thing we’re looking for is voluntary compliance,” Pickett said. “We want truck drivers to understand that between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m., there are people trying to sleep. If they have an exhaust system that is not up to code, we’re asking them to get the proper exhaust put on. If they work with us, we’ll work with them.”
Pickett said that his officers will begin keeping an eye on the problem areas throughout Dixfield.
mdaigle@sunjournal.com
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