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Middletown seeks to reduce truck noise

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By Michael D. Pitman, Staff Writer 7:30 PM Friday, January 27, 2012

MIDDLETOWN — City leaders hope a sign on Cincinnati-Dayton Road will reduce noise created by tractor-trailers when drivers engine brake.

Middletown Division of Police Chief David VanArsdale said the stretch of Cincinnati-Dayton Road just south of Lefferson Road will have a sign that will prohibit engine braking, a method used by tractor-trailer drivers to slow down without applying their brakes.

“We’ve had complaints over the years and for some reason past administrations have been reluctant to address it,” he said. “That’s a problem area identified by the neighbors, so we’re going to give this a shot.”

Violators will be charged with failure to obey a traffic control device and fined $115, VanArsdale said.

City Law Director Les Landen said the sign will go up in the next two to three weeks.

However, he said enforcement can be difficult.

“You have to see them violate the posted device, so that’s always been a concern that it would make it difficult to enforce,” he said.

VanArsdale said an officer is assigned to that area and part of his or her responsibility is traffic patrol, though the officer won’t be out there at any set time.

Landen said a council-approved ordinance isn’t necessary and likely wouldn’t be any more effective than posting a sign. VanArsdale said the project is “an expeditious way to take care of the problem.”

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2715 or michael.pitman@coxinc.com. Follow at twitter.com/mdpitman.

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