Lewis County, WA Noise Ordinances: Vehicle Noise (2026)
Key Facts
- Restricted hours
- 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. daily
- Restricted area
- Gore Road, La Due Cemetery Rd to Leonard Rd
- Penalty
- Misdemeanor under RCW 9A.20.021(3)
- Signage
- Posted within 30 days of designation
- Enforcing agency
- Lewis County Sheriff's Office
Summary
In unincorporated Lewis County, Chapter 10.27 bans compression brake ("Jake brake") use between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. within board-designated residential areas, currently Gore Road from La Due Cemetery Road to Leonard Road. The Board of County Commissioners found compression brake noise there a public nuisance. Violation is a misdemeanor under RCW 9A.20.021(3), unless the brakes were used in a genuine emergency.
It is hereby declared by board of county commissioners, that the use of compression brakes in some residential areas within the corporate limits of Lewis County disturbs the peace and quiet ... Between the hours of 10:00 pm and 6:00 am Pacific Time, on each and every day of the year, the use of compression brakes in the following designated areas within the corporate limits of Lewis County is prohibited: ... Gore Road from the intersection of La Due Cemetery Road westerly to its terminus at Leonard Road. ... Violation of this section shall constitute a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be punished as provided for in RCW 9A.20.021(3). It shall not be deemed a misdemeanor if an emergency situation exists and the use of compression brakes is necessary for the protection of persons or property.
Full Breakdown
010 states the Board of County Commissioners' finding that compression brake use in some residential areas disturbs residents' peace and quiet, declaring it a public nuisance in those areas. m. Pacific Time, but only inside areas the Board has specifically designated; the only area named in the chapter is Gore Road from its intersection with La Due Cemetery Road westerly to its terminus at Leonard Road, so the ban does not reach compression brakes elsewhere in the unincorporated county unless the Board adds another road.
050 requires the Public Works department to post signs at all county roads entering a designated restriction area within 30 days of its creation, reading "Compression Brake Use Prohibited between hours of 10 PM and 6 AM" with the code chapter and penalty. 021(3), but the section carves out an exception when an emergency situation makes compression braking necessary to protect persons or property.
Violations & Fines
Using a compression brake on Gore Road between La Due Cemetery Road and Leonard Road during the posted 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. window is a misdemeanor under RCW 9A.20.021(3), enforced by the Lewis County Sheriff's Office. Drivers who brake for a genuine emergency, to protect persons or property, are not guilty of the misdemeanor. The county must post signage at the restricted area before the ban is enforceable there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the compression brake ban apply countywide?
What happens if I use my engine brake during an emergency?
How will I know a road has a nighttime brake ban?
What is the penalty for violating the ban?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lewis County
Compare Lewis County to another location·View the Washington noise ordinances overview
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