I just read on YT a reply that a train engineer was fined $15.000 for wearing a smart watch.
Is this an hoax or is this real?
I donât know whether or not itâs idiotic, but if the rule says ânoâ, then donât do it.
Since a smart watch allows many of the same things as a cell phone, including phone calls and texting, I would expect usage to face the same fines as a cell phone.
Probably the most idiotic thing about that is the âformer USMC aviatorâ who seems to think engineers should be allowed to do things other than pay full attention to train operation.
I wonder if the smart watch features of concern, such as making or taking calls and messages, could be turned off while on duty?. Think a different form of airplane mode for various devices with wi-fi and cellular capability.
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Why even bring the smart watch into the cab and risk a penalty the one time you forget to disable them?
Itâs 2025, trains crews should know by now that if an incident/accident occurs while theyâre using a personal electronic device, their career is over.
First thing that comes to mind is health monitoring. Smart watches can monitor pulse rate, blood pressure, pO2 and possibly glucose levels. It would be trivial to log the times that the verboten functionality was disabled.
This reminds of a kick-off meeting 20 years ago, one of the attendees opened up his laptop and the meetingâs host said âYour wi-fi better be turned off or we will have visitors shortlyâ.
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While I understand that the use of personal electronic devices is restricted or not qllowed while on duty, I was wondering, if it is true, about the $15,000 fine because he or she was wearing a smartwatch.
While I can comprehend the possibility of a sanction (reprimand, report, suspension, or dismissal), I was surprised by the magnitude of the financial penalty. (15,000 is slightly less than half of my annual gross pay).
If wearing a smartwatch is not permitted, would wearing a smartphone or mobile phone be prohibited as well?
In that case, how would individuals contact their company or family if they have to stay overnight?
If this incident really occurred, would it be possible for someone to provide a link to a newspaper article?
{The comment in question (see first posting) was inspired by a YouTube video posted by a pilot who dropped a photo from another plane via his iPhone to that plane.}
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Depending on where the fine came from Iâve seen cases where OSHA fines a company a huge amount but by the time the red tape is cut away it gets negotiated down to simply covering costs or simply a promise that âweâll never do that againâ. The fine is suspended pending a correction of the infringement.
Note that often the term âup toâ is usually associated with fines. So the max is stated without knowing what actual fine (if any) was imposed.
IF the FRA fined the railroad itself the employee might be spared any out-of-pocket expenses. Will the railroadâs lawyers go to bat for the employee? Not enough information here to make any kind of determination. Often times the rule itself can be found on-line but there doesnât even seem to be enough info here for that.
Most internet âclick baitâ is just that. Make a preposterous claim but donât back it up with any factual information. The press might report a huge fine but never publish any kind of followup to say that the whole thing was negotiated away.
Read parts of FRA Part 220 rules here:
A good overview of PED use is discussed here and makes for interesting reading:
Regards, Ed
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That I am aware - no US railroad labor agreements allow financial fines to be levied for any reason. The permitted disciplines are Reprimand, Overhead Suspension, Suspension and finally termination of employment.
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It would seem a hoax: The poster himself asked what Walt stated above. Advise given when a sales pitch seems too good to be true, it is a trick called âbait and switchâ. endmrw0211251134
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Exactly. need more information, to this,