HomeMy WebLinkAboutDepartment of Transportion · ~ ~ Montana Department of Transportation David A. Ga~t, Director
~ *~n~d~ Judy Martz, Governor
Billings D~trict O~ce
424 Morey Street
PO Box 2~37
Bi/#ngs, ~T ~91~-0437
Bo~orablc Jo~ "Bud" 3o~so~,
L
Mayor of La~el ~ ' V
La~el, MT 59044
Subject: Removing "No Compression Brake" signs
The 2003 Legislature s new law allowing the use of compression brakes recently took el~ect. The
new law takes precedence over local government ordinances that prohibit the use of compression
brakes. Consequently, it is no longer appropriate for us to have signs on our fight-of-way
prohibiting the use of compression brakes. To comply with the law, we will be removing any
such signing on our fight-of-way as time and resources allow but no later than July of 2004.
For your reference, here is the specific language from the Montana Codes Annotated:
61-9-321. Engine compression brake device - use. (1) A commercial motor vehicle, as
defined in 61-1-134, equipped with an engine cotnpression brake device must be
equipped with a muffler in good working condition to prevent excessive noise.
(2) An operator of a commercial motor vehicle that has an engine compression brake
device with a factory-installed muffler or an equivalent after-market muffler may not be
prohibited from using the engine compression brake device.
Additionally, we will not install new signs for recently passed ordinances prohibiting the use of
compression brakes.
When you receive complaints regarding the use of compression brakes, we recommend you either
contact one of your local law enforcement agencies or the highway patrol dispatch at 1-888-555-
5255.
If you have any questions regarding this new law or our removal of compression brake signing,
please feel free to call Stan Jonutis of my staff at 657-0240 or Curt Rissmann with the Highway
Patrol at 444-5447.
Sincerely,
District Administrator-Billings
S 5ADMIN~Admin~48_GEN_CORRESPXJac_Brakes_ItrsDOC
copies: Curt Rissmann, Motor vehicle Inspection Chief, Highway Patrol - Department of
Justice, Helena
D. John Blacker, Maintenance Administrator
Jim Stevenson, Maintenance Chief-Billings
District File
Phono.. (406)252-4158 TT~' (800)335-75~o2
To/&~cree..(888)SG~4e5 AnEqua) Oppor~unityErnployer Inlemet: wwwmdtsfateus
FAX' ' (406)256-6487