You have probably seen the signs as you drive through the city of Biddeford, and unless you’re driving a big truck – you may not understand the impacts of a traffic ordinance that was revised by the city council four months ago.
With very little fanfare, the Biddeford City Council voted 7-1 (Lessard) on May 20th, to extend the prohibition of engine braking on a permanent basis, 24 hours per day.
Engine braking is used to safely increase the stopping power of large trucks with less wear on their wheel brakes. Though engine braking can provide as much as 25 percent more stopping power, the process makes a loud noise.
Previously, operators of large trucks were allowed to use engine braking – also known as “the Jake Brake” – before 9 p.m. and after 6 a.m. because of the noise that is produced when a driver uses engine braking.
John Chretien is the second-generation owner of the family-owned Bob’s Garage in Biddeford, a hauling and trucking company founded by his father in 1961.
A large part of Chretien’s business involves hauling heavy equipment – such as excavators and plows — to and from job sites. The company has also worked as a city contractor for towing and snow removal.
Chretien says the ordinance change caught him completely off guard.
“I knew nothing about it until I got a call from the police chief a few days ago,” he said. “Everything was going fine, and then they [the city] decided to change the ordinance because of just a couple of complaints.
“I don’t understand why no one asked us – or someone else who does trucking – about the ordinance,” Chretien added. “This is a safety issue. What happens if an animal or a pedestrian darts out on the road? Large trucks cannot just stop on a dime.”
City Councilor Roger Beaupre is the chair of the city council’s Traffic Committee. He is also the city’s former chief of police, a position he held for 40 years.
Beaupre says he can understand Chretien’s frustration, but also says the ordinance change went through a very “thorough and transparent” public process.
“The [Traffic] Committee received several complaints about engine braking,” Beaupre said. “From there, the committee recommended revising the ordinance. To change an ordinance, the council has to hold two publicly advertised public meetings.”
Beaupre said the council does not have the resources to reach out to every person who may be impacted by a proposed change to the city’s ordinances.
“I can understand why he [Chretien] is frustrated,” Beaupre said. “But there is only so much we can do to make sure that people know what is happening at City Hall. This was a very public and transparent process.”
Chretien’s business is headquartered near the western end of Guinea Road, a quiet residential neighborhood with manicured lawns and single-family homes.
Chretien says he likely knows the “one person” who filed a complaint about his company.
Beaupre, however, says the Traffic Committee received several complaints, most of which came from the city’s downtown area and on the southern side of Elm Street (Route One) near the new courthouse building.
Chretien said he would have been happy to work with the city in revising the ordinance, including an agreement not to use engine braking when a truck is empty.
“I really don’t understand this,” Chretien said. “It seems like we’re willing to sacrifice increased safety because of occasional noise.”
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Randy Seaver is the editor and founder of the Biddeford Gazette. He may be reached by email at randy@randyseaver.com
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