Railfans catching Drivers in the act.

[Anonymous]

I wanted to ask you Railfans and Railroaders out there. If someone wants to realy crack down on Drivers who break the Law at Railroad Grade crossings. What can a Railfan do to try to help Law enforcement in this continueing problem? To catch them in the act. Lets just say I take my Camcorder while a Train comes to try to catch the Driver in the act. I realy want to do it. Any thoughts. Allan.

[edblysard]

Yeah,
Make sure you have a good, really good attorney on retainer....

Ed

[chad thomas]

And be prepared to go by a new nick name.....RAT

[Anonymous]

Might even sleep with one eye open at night and beware of the late night knocks at the front door.

[Anonymous]

How many of those motorists are gonna get on their cellphones to report a suspicious character with a camera at the railroad crossing?

[Anonymous]

you should join the police force and be a cop. then you could bust everybody!

[JoeKoh]

yeah and be prepared to have your trainwatching time cut down because you have to go to court to testify.
stay safe
joe

[Anonymous]

Learn to spell. thats the biggest issue at hand.

[richardy]

In my state a traffic violation must be observed in the act by an officer for an arrest to be made with the exception if the violation results in a traffic accident where the officer can determine guilt. Observed in the act does not include a private citizens videotape. If the motorist pleads not guilty then the officer has to testify in court based on your video only. Oh, you will be there also, ever had a defense attorney tear into you?

[Cheviot Hill]

QUOTE: Originally posted by OneSecondPle

Learn to spell. thats the biggest issue at hand.

Also how to punctuate.

[TomDiehl]

QUOTE: Originally posted by richardy

In my state a traffic violation must be observed in the act by an officer for an arrest to be made with the exception if the violation results in a traffic accident where the officer can determine guilt. Observed in the act does not include a private citizens videotape. If the motorist pleads not guilty then the officer has to testify in court based on your video only. Oh, you will be there also, ever had a defense attorney tear into you?

A lot of states are amending this to allow for "video surveylence." Cameras have been set up, for example, at automated toll gates to catch the picture of a driver dodging the toll, usually aimed to to capture the license plate and enough of the car to identify the make and model.

And those mispellings are intentional. Pfffft.

[Anonymous]

I was only guessing. I mean it was only a thought. I wasn't serious.

[Anonymous]

I really would not worry about it. If people are that stupid to put themselves and their passengers in danger, that only shows their lack of common sense. BNSF has a little postcard type form that is included in crew packs. If a crew has a 'near miss' they are encouraged to fill out of the card by what (almost) happened and then mail the card to FTW postage already paid. Most crews do not even bother as the rr only uses the information provided for stats and nothing else. Sounds like a waste of time for me.

[GP-9_Man11786]

Why not just put red light cameras at grade crossings?

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by richardy

In my state a traffic violation must be observed in the act by an officer for an arrest to be made with the exception if the violation results in a traffic accident where the officer can determine guilt. Observed in the act does not include a private citizens videotape. If the motorist pleads not guilty then the officer has to testify in court based on your video only. Oh, you will be there also, ever had a defense attorney tear into you?

What you are saying is true,But. Of all of the stupid drivers that disobey a RR crossing signals is a major violation of the law. Cops can't be there at every RR crossing 24hours a day. I no that. Just think how much time the Railroad looses every time some dip weed decides that he nor she just don't want to wait just a few lousy minute for the train to pass as the Train smackes in their car. For instance. Just last year a Westbound Hot Z struck a Truck all because this person couldn't wait till the Train passed. I must be very stupid. I must be dumb. I mean Railfans have seen this just as much as I. And I personaly think that I could do something to try to catch some in the act. But I was wrong.
I just can't understand why the law doesn't do something about this problem. I give up.
Allan.

[richardy]

QUOTE: Originally posted by TomDiehl

QUOTE: Originally posted by richardy

In my state a traffic violation must be observed in the act by an officer for an arrest to be made with the exception if the violation results in a traffic accident where the officer can determine guilt. Observed in the act does not include a private citizens videotape. If the motorist pleads not guilty then the officer has to testify in court based on your video only. Oh, you will be there also, ever had a defense attorney tear into you?

A lot of states are amending this to allow for "video surveylence." Cameras have been set up, for example, at automated toll gates to catch the picture of a driver dodging the toll, usually aimed to to capture the license plate and enough of the car to identify the make and model.

And those mispellings are intentional. Pfffft.

My state included for toll runners but the data on the camera system and placement must survive in court. At this point we don't accept the red light cameras yet but I think it is coming at some time in the future.

My point was for a citizen camera without specific consideration for placement, certification of a clock, certification of the camera, the operators abilities, etc. All items that will come up in court if the violator pleads not guilty.

[richardy]

QUOTE: Originally posted by BNSFrailfan.

QUOTE: Originally posted by richardy

In my state a traffic violation must be observed in the act by an officer for an arrest to be made with the exception if the violation results in a traffic accident where the officer can determine guilt. Observed in the act does not include a private citizens videotape. If the motorist pleads not guilty then the officer has to testify in court based on your video only. Oh, you will be there also, ever had a defense attorney tear into you?

What you are saying is true,But. Of all of the stupid drivers that disobey a RR crossing signals is a major violation of the law. Cops can't be there at every RR crossing 24hours a day. I no that. Just think how much time the Railroad looses every time some dip weed decides that he nor she just don't want to wait just a few lousy minute for the train to pass as the Train smackes in their car. For instance. Just last year a Westbound Hot Z struck a Truck all because this person couldn't wait till the Train passed. I must be very stupid. I must be dumb. I mean Railfans have seen this just as much as I. And I personaly think that I could do something to try to catch some in the act. But I was wrong.
I just can't understand why the law doesn't do something about this problem. I give up.
Allan.

I know your heart is in the right place but you should let law enforcement take care of this one. I see the same things but you just have to hope that the idiot will get caught by law enforcement soon. I have the same feelings for the idiots that dart across four lanes at once while doing 70 MPH in front of me.

Law enforcement does try to do something when they have grade crossing sweeps. Law enforcement has done something several times when I watched a motorist run the lights or gates and the officier just happened to be waiting at the crossing on the other side, those lights come on fast. They just cannot be at every crossing every time.

[Mookie]

Allan - the BNSF at 1st and J here in Lincoln has inadvertently cut down on gate crashers! My heart used to stop a lot while we were watching so many cars and a lot with kids in them, go around the gates. Now, frequently, the coal trains block that crossing and it has cut down the traffic drastically. Still a few gate crashers, but significantly less! 1 down, 83million to go....

Moo

[spbed]

If they are old enough & have been given a license to drive from the state you live in & want to take your life in your hands why should you worry about it? [:o)][:D]

Originally posted by BNSFrailfan.
[

Living nearby to MP 186 of the UPRR  Austin TX Sub

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