Results of one day of officer riding in locomotive.
We’ve had that system in Missouri for several years. It works like a charm.
Lesson to remember: obey crossing laws.
Louisiana Enforcement of Traffic Laws has always been pretty strict, and EXPENSIVE for the violator, particularly if from out of State.
I seem to recall that last year the AMTRAK’s Sunset Ltd. took out a grain truck near Crowley, La.
September 10,2010
linked article, with some photos
Only 12 citations were issued…I don’t see the big deal. how many people die due to speeding in LA every year? Tax dollars would be better spent keepng cops on the road.
And how many cops “on the road” issue 12 citations per day? I would say that this cop may have met his quota for the month in just one day.
And not only that, what if one of those citations ultimately resulted in a driver some day NOT crossing in front of a train the next time s/he was tempted to do so, thereby preventing a potential major derailment with multiple deaths or millions in property damage?
Of course, if the cop was actually on the road, maybe he would have written a ticket for some dolt who was texting while driving, thereby perhaps causing the driver to reconsider texting while driving in the future, the result being that s/he does not blow thru a stop sign and kill some kid who would otherwise have grown up to discover a cure for cancer; of course, another possibility is that the kid might instead grow up to be the next Hilter.
Ya just never know; therefore it is impossible to say for certain which is the best path to take, as each path brings it’s own opportunities for good and/or bad.
While on the board of our local transit agency I had a take off on the rock-paper-scissors game:
Bicycles beat pedrestrians
Cars beat bicycles
Trains beat cars
and there is no closing loop back to pedrestrians.
Sam:
“Louisiana Enforcement of Traffic Laws has always been pretty strict, and EXPENSIVE for the violator, particularly if from out of State.”
I’m surprised to hear that, so it must apply to out-of-staters as you say. The usual driving philosophy around here is that everyone gets out on the roads and does whatever they feel like doing.
I am glad to see that original post, though. I think we have ranked at or near the top in RR crossing accidents for several years.
Trooper on the Train is a relatively routine occurrence…will generally happen in areas where there has been a increase of road crossing incidents. The operation generally is highly publicized - after the fact - in local media.
I remember seeing a report about this on television several years ago. The officer expressed shock at the number of incidents he saw.
During TrainFest 2009 in Owosso, a state trooper rode the cab of the all-day excursions, while another chased (along with all the fans). I don’t know if there were any tickets issued.
To The comment of BaltACD:.
While living in Georgia, I was part of a local Trucking Operation that participated with the Ga. Motor Trucking Assoc and with Ga. Operation Lifesaver. They use the Trooper on a Train with some regularity and effectiveness while I was there.
Now while out here in Kansas, over the last year the BNSF has cooperated with Local LEO’s to put officers on Trains coming into, and out of Wichita. According to the newspaper articles, they have written a number of tickets. Hopefully, slowed down the individuals who bolt across the unprotected crossings ( those with only a ‘Cross Buck’). We are fortunate than many of the heavier traveled crossings are actively signaled, (as there is a fairly high track speed through this area)
To Paul of Covington:
I had reference to the Louisiana practices of handling out of stateers who were guilty of transgressing Louisiana Traffic laws. As someone who traveled through Louisiana on a regular basis, I was acutely aware of how tickets to out of stateers were handled… A ticket or fine was to be paid in cash, or the individual was jailed until that fine arrived in the appropriate jurisdiction. [:-^]
It was was enforced, particularly on truckers. If a driver were fined, and could not pay cash, it was incarceration until the fine arrived, and the truck was towed to a local impound ( local wrecker yard) where there was also a fee for the towing/handling and storage. As you can imagine the fees and fine escalated pretty quickly. Not sure if that is still the case, but up until a few years back, it
It’s still a strange concept to me that tickets will inspire people to obey the laws, but the threat of death doesn’t seem to do much…