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Engine Brake Laws No. SD Local / posted

South Dakota Engine & Jake Brake Rules

South Dakota bans no engine brake statewide. The state hook is the muffler law (SDCL 32-15-17): a working exhaust and muffler, no cutout, and a Class 2 misdemeanor if you run loud (up to $500). The actual 'no engine brake' rules are local. Yankton signs all four entries into town, and small towns like Worthing pass jake-brake ordinances. Keep the engine brake on for the grades where nothing is posted.

Ban scopeLocal / posted
Muffler lawYes (the legal hook)
Where postedLocal, not statewide
FineThe state muffler/exhaust violation is a Class 2 misdemeanor, up to $500 and/or 30 days
01 The rule

How South Dakota handles engine braking

South Dakota bans no engine brake statewide. The state hook is the muffler law (SDCL 32-15-17): a working exhaust and muffler, no cutout, and a Class 2 misdemeanor if you run loud (up to $500). The actual 'no engine brake' rules are local. Yankton signs all four entries into town, and small towns like Worthing pass jake-brake ordinances. Keep the engine brake on for the grades where nothing is posted.

02 On the road

What to watch for

South Dakota Engine Brake FAQ

Are engine brakes banned in South Dakota?
South Dakota has no statewide ban. The restriction is local and posted on "NO ENGINE BRAKE" signs. South Dakota bans no engine brake statewide.
Where are the "NO ENGINE BRAKE" signs in South Dakota?
Local, not statewide. Yankton posts 'no engine brake' signs on all four entrances into town, and small towns such as Worthing carry jake-brake ordinances (Chapter 73). Efforts to bar local bans at the state level have not stuck, so the town signs stand. Watch residential edges and grades into communities.
What is the fine for using an engine brake where it is banned in South Dakota?
The state muffler/exhaust violation is a Class 2 misdemeanor, up to $500 and/or 30 days (SDCL 22-6-2). A local jake-brake citation is a smaller ordinance fine that varies by town; Yankton's runs up to $100.

Reference information for planning, not legal advice. Traffic laws change and this can be out of date, so always confirm the current statute and obey posted signs before you rely on it. Last reviewed July 2026. Source: https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/32-15-17. See our Terms & Disclaimer.

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