Bonneville County, ID Noise Ordinances: Vehicle Noise (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- § 70.41(A)-(B)
- No-brake buffer
- 1 mile of city limits
- First offense fine
- $50 infraction
- Repeat penalty
- Up to 6 months jail, $1,000
- Adopted
- Ordinance 263-24, 8-7-2024
Summary
Bonneville County bans compression brakes, engine brakes and Jake Brakes on any motor vehicle within one mile of Idaho Falls, Ammon, Ucon, Iona or any other incorporated city limit. The county also posts signed prohibition zones elsewhere on county roads.
No operator of any motor vehicle, excepting emergency vehicles operated by first responders (such as fire, ambulance and law enforcement), shall use or activate a compression brake, engine brake or dynamic braking device within one mile of any of the following incorporated city limits: (1) City of Idaho Falls; (2) City of Ammon; (3) City of Ucon; (4) City of Iona; and (5) Any other incorporated area.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-1: Ordinance 280-26, passed 1-20-2026).
Full Breakdown
41 of the county code prohibits any vehicle operator, other than emergency responders such as fire, ambulance or law enforcement, from using or activating a compression brake, engine brake or dynamic braking device within one mile of the incorporated limits of Idaho Falls, Ammon, Ucon, Iona, or any other incorporated city in the county. Outside that one-mile buffer, the Board of County Commissioners can designate additional prohibition zones on county roads. " Anyone wanting a new zone designated must petition the County Commissioners, who hold a public meeting, take testimony, and vote whether to designate the area before the Public Works Director orders the signage.
40) folds Jake Brake, Jacob's Brake and dynamic braking device into the single defined term "compression brake," so the ban reaches any hydraulically operated retarding device on a diesel engine that produces braking noise, not just a specific brand name. The ordinance was adopted as Ordinance 263-24 on August 7, 2024, replacing an older framework.
Violations & Fines
A first violation of the near-city ban in Section 70.41(A) is an infraction with a $50 fine; a second violation is $90; a third or later violation becomes a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail, a fine up to $1,000, or both, under Idaho Code Section 18-113. Violations inside a posted designated area under Section 70.41(B) carry the same $50 first-offense fine, escalating to a misdemeanor with up to six months jail or a $1,000 fine for a repeat offense within five years. Court costs under Idaho Code Section 31-3201A are added on top of every fine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where exactly is engine braking banned in Bonneville County?
Are emergency vehicles exempt from the Bonneville County engine brake ban?
What happens on a third engine brake violation in Bonneville County?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bonneville County
Compare Bonneville County to another location·View the Idaho noise ordinances overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.