Prosper Town Council members approved the ordinance updates during a Nov. 12 meeting. The new provisions apply to vehicles weighing more than 14,000 pounds and are in accordance with Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) guidelines, according to meeting documents.
The details
The engine idling portion of the updates refer to when a large truck is running its engine for more than five consecutive minutes while the vehicle is not moving.
There are some exceptions allowed in the ordinance, including if the truck is stuck in traffic, weighs less than seven tons, is providing necessary air conditioning or heating necessary for the driver’s health or if the vehicle is being used for military or local police purposes.
Individuals who are found to have violated the ordinance could be fined up to $500.
Another thing
Engine braking, also called “jake braking,” is defined in the same ordinance as a way to slow a vehicle by slowing the engine. It was already prohibited within town limits prior to the updates, a policy intended to limit the noise issues it creates, but was amended to address some technical revisions, according to meeting documents.
