The trucks don't have BRAKES like every other vehicles on the road? They can't stop without jake brakes?

Actually, I have no problem with the trucks using their jake brakes when they have l-e-g-a-l exhausts. The problem I have is the combination of gutted exhausts and jake brake use.

These truck drivers seem to get off on making as much noise as possible with their gutted 8 inch exhaust stacks and their jake brakes.

There are laws limiting vehicle noise and laws stating that you cannot alter your exhaust system. These laws are supposed to make the neighborhoods that these trucks regularly travel through comfortable places to reside.

If the cops would only enforce the laws in place...

The problem isn't the jake brake (safety device) that helps stop the trucks... it's that some of these trucks are running illegal straight exhaust stacks with no mufflers at all. The moronic drivers of these trucks think it's cool to to make as much noise as possible.

Just like loud cars, motorcycles and stereos... It is illegal plain and simple. Albany writes tickets for loud exhaust. In a news story a couple years ago, Troy claimed to be cracking down on noise pollution from vehicles and car stereos. I wonder how many tickets or warnings were issued?

This is the sound residents all over Troy are annoyed with....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQuiD5yMIDo&feature=fvwrel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UT4sHf1gYLI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCvXKgEo5i8&NR=1

Most of Troy sand & gravels old ratty blue/orange/white trucks sound like the trucks above.

The drivers just love driving around making lots of noise giving you and them a headache. The engine brake is used to stop premature wear out of the brakes. Breaks in a truck don’t last long and many don’t have self adjusting brakes. Meaning one good hill and that truck might not have brakes to stop. So next time you hear that truck making load noises just remember all he is trying to do is stop. Also that road was there long before you moved in. should of checked it out first.

Mike - The problem isn't the jake brake (safety device) that helps stop the trucks... it's that some of these trucks are running illegal straight exhaust stacks with no mufflers at all. The moronic drivers of these trucks think it's cool to to make as much noise as possible.

Just like loud cars, motorcycles and stereos... It is illegal plain and simple. Albany writes tickets for loud exhaust. In a news story a couple years ago, Troy claimed to be cracking down on noise pollution from vehicles and car stereos. I wonder how many tickets or warnings were issued?

This is the sound residents all over Troy are annoyed with....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQuiD5yMIDo&feature=fvwrel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UT4sHf1gYLI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCvXKgEo5i8&NR=1

Most of Troy sand & gravels old ratty blue/orange/white trucks sound like the trucks above.

.

The area in question is a Hospital Zone. And trucks DO have brakes.

A couple years ago, the police came to check noise levels on Oakwood Ave, The officer parked a marked police car right on Oakwood Ave and stood in plain sight, on the sidwwalk (with his uniformed partner) pointing the decible meter at trucks as they came down the hill. That would be like a uniformed officer standing in a store aisle, expecting ing to catch a shoplifter stealing things. LOL! I applaud them for their effort but their execution was sorely lacking.

It was pretty obvious the police were running a sound level check. As you would expect, the truckers got on their CBs and told all their buddies and then simply shut off their jake brakes and used their regular brakes until the police car on Oakwood Ave went away.

The police didn't hear ANY loud jake brakes for the couple hours they were testing. So, they assumed there wasn't a problem & that the neighbors who complained were just residents with nothing better to do than whine about something that isn't even a problem.

It got so bad that last fall, an annoyed resident spent $120 of his own money to have 6 big "NO JAKE BRAKE" signs made up at a local Troy sign company. He put them up on the Telephone poles from the hospital entrance on Oakwood Ave down to Sausse Ave.

Neighbors were talking and noticed that the jake brake noise actually lessened for a while. A couple months later, someone took all 6 signs down and destroyed them.

If the police came occassionally and STEALTHILY did sound level checks on these trucks on Oakwood Ave hill, I gaurantee they'd hear what residents hear and then finally understand our frustration.

And again, it is NOT the jake brake/engine brakes that are the problem.

It's the trucks with illegal, gutted straight stack exhausts using their jake brakes that are the problem. See video below. This is what Oakwood Ave sounds like about 100 times a day. Maybe more.

Skip to 59 seconds in the video. The first minute is boring. At 59 seconds... this is what Oakwood Ave residents hear all day long. And the houses are mere feet from the road. There's no buffer from the noise.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oT33RRs-C00

First of all if you’re going to use videos try using videos that are taken from Oakwood ave. and as far as trucks being illegal in any way that does not last long at all trucks are the most inspected vehicles and not by your local buddy down the road on average a truck will go though at least 3 state inspection a year. No local yahoo, with a state certified DOT inspector. Also those gutted out pipes cost up to $5000 for a set a little costly for a truck a drive does not own. And if it was illegal the fine are expensive. If you would like to see what trucks go through during an inspection. https://www.dot.ny.gov/divisions/operating/osss/truck/vehicle?nd=nysdot