CASTAIC COMPLAINS OF TRUCK-BRAKE NOISE TOWN COUNCIL MAY DECIDE TO REQUEST CHP TO BETTER ENFORCE LAWS GOVERNING SOUND.Byline: Lisa Mascaro Staff Writer CASTAIC - Reducing noise from trucks driving downhill on the southbound south·bound adj. Going toward the south. southbound Adjective going towards the south Adj. 1. Golden State Freeway The Golden State Freeway is a north-south freeway running through Kern County and Los Angeles County, California. Originally built as U.S. Highway 99, it was re-signed as Interstate 5 in 1964. is the aim of a proposal going before the Town Council tonight. The council will consider calling on the California Highway Patrol highway patrol n. A state law enforcement organization whose police officers patrol the public highways. to enforce noise laws - particularly the screech that comes when unmuffled trucks flip on a Jake Brake The Jake Brake or Jacobs Brake is a particular brand of engine brake manufactured and sold by Jacobs Vehicle Systems, Inc. While the term Jake Brake technically only describes Jake Brake brand engine brakes, it has become a genericized trademark and is often used to coming downhill, said Jim D'Addario, the member who plans to bring the proposal to the Town Council. ``The people who live near it say it rattles their homes,'' said D'Addario, who planned to tape record the noise Tuesday night. ``We all tried to move up to Castaic because of various reasons, one is the beautiful neighborhoods we have.'' D'Addario said residents in homes paralleling the freeway, at The Old Road and Oaks Valley Road area, hear the noise, mostly late in the night, from midnight to 4 a.m. He claims noise is caused by the modified or missing mufflers on some big rigs. Without a muffler muffler, in automobiles, device designed to reduce the noise from the exhaust of an internal-combustion engine. When the exhaust gases from an internal-combustion engine are released directly into the atmosphere, they create a loud noise, caused by the passage of the , when trucks flip on the Jake Brake - a standard engine device on many trucks used to cut speed - a staccato noise barrels out. ``Jake Brakes are not the problem ... it is modified exhaust system Noun 1. exhaust system - system consisting of the parts of an engine through which burned gases or steam are discharged exhaust automobile engine - the engine that propels an automobile ,'' he said. A CHP CHP Chapter CHP Combined Heat and Power CHP California Highway Patrol CHP Cumhuriyet Halk Partisi (Turkish: Republican People's Party) CHP Chemical Hygiene Plan (OSHA) CHP Community Health Plan official said noise coming from modified mufflers, as sometimes found in street racing vehicles, can be a violation. However, he was uncertain if trucks were violating noise laws, and would have to look into the Town Council's request, if it is approved. ``We'll look it over see what options we have,'' said CHP Sgt. Rick Sirovy in the Newhall office. ``We would research, research the Vehicle Code, see what our options are.'' Communities across California have tried to ban Jake Brakes or unmuffled trucks as a way to reduce noise, officials said. A spokesman for Jacobs Vehicle Systems, which designs the devices found on 90 percent of trucks, said its products are not the problem. ``It's not the product that's at fault,'' said company spokesman Brian Mauriello, whose company works with communities on the issue. ``A muffler would essentially cancel that noise out. If you take that out, anything the engine is going to do is going to be amplified.'' A spokesman for the California Truckers Association said that while a muffler would help soften the noise, Jake Brakes aren't silent. Warren Hoemann, vice president of the California Trucking Association, said his group works with truckers, encouraging them only to use Jake Brakes on downhill roads as needed as needed prn. See prn order. rather than as a regular braking device. And he said the group also works with communities when the issue arises. Hoemann was unable to comment fully on Castaic's proposal. ``We're all in favor of being good citizens on the highways,'' Hoemann said. The elected Town Council is expected to take up the issue tonight. The council is advisory group to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors is the five member governing board of Los Angeles County, California. Members of the board of supervisors are elected by district, the current members as of April 2006 are:
D'Addario compared the issue to residents living near an airport - saying the community expects a certain amount of noise from the highway, but wants to prevent more than is necessary. ``We're not against cars going down the freeway,'' he said. ``All I'm asking is to send a letter (from) the Town Council to the CHP to better enforce the noise pollution laws.'' |
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