(1) This
section applies to all motor vehicles with a gross vehicle weight
rating of 4,536 kilograms or more (10,001 pounds or more),
registered and domiciled in Washington state, operated on public
roads and equipped with engine compression brake devices. An
engine compression brake device is any device that uses the
engine and transmission to impede the forward motion of the motor
vehicle by compression of the engine.
(2) The driver of a motor vehicle equipped with a device
that uses the compression of the motor vehicle engine shall not
use the device unless: The motor vehicle is equipped with an
operational muffler and exhaust system to prevent excess noise.
A muffler is part of an engine exhaust system which acts as a
noise dissipative device. A turbocharger is not permitted to be
used as a muffler or a noise dissipative device.
(3) The monetary penalty for violating subsection (2) of
this section is: (a) Two hundred fifty dollars for the first
violation; (b) five hundred dollars for the second violation; and
(c) seven hundred fifty dollars for each violation thereafter.
(4) All medium and heavy trucks must comply with federal
code 205 - transportation equipment noise emission controls,
subpart B.
(5) Nothing in this section prohibits a local jurisdiction
from implementing an ordinance that is more restrictive than the
state law and Washington state patrol rules regarding the use of
compression brakes.
[2006 c 50 § 3; 2005 c 320 § 1.]