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Who gets the ticket? State senator derailed with police summons By JUSTIN POST Tribune Chronicle LORDSTOWN - ''Calling Senator Hagan, what is your location? Someone would like to speak with you.'' Those are the words that state Sen. Robert F. Hagan, D-Youngstown, heard Wed-nesday minutes before a Lordstown officer boarded his locomotive to deliver a summons. Hagan, who works as a part-time CSX locomotive engineer, was cited for a first-degree misdemeanor of blocking roads. The Youngstown Democrat must appear at 9 a.m. July 10 before Newton Falls Municipal Judge Thomas L. Old. The senator was cited for obstructing Salt Springs Road and Lyntz Road just north of the General Motors Lordstown Complex almost a week earlier. The summons already was filled out with Hagan's Social Security number, birth date and other information when the officer boarded the train, a fact that Hagan believes is suspicious. ''I am a little bit perplexed. How did they know it was me?'' Hagan said. ''I don't know if it was a Republican involved or what.'' Hagan had picked up a shipment of 41 vehicles from the GM complex, and his conductor was waiting for clearance from a dispatcher in Jacksonville, Fla., to switch rails. The move was stalled because of nearby train traffic, however, and an officer apparently timed the train as it blocked traffic, Hagan said. Lordstown police Chief Brent Milhoan was unavailable for comment Thursday afternoon. State law stipulates that trains may not be stopped for more than five minutes, according to Hagan. The senator admits that his engine was stopped too long, but says its not his job to watch the clock. ''I am not arguing that, I'm sure it was five minutes,'' he said. ''It's not the engineer's responsibility to make sure the road crossings are not blocked, it's the conductor and if he says go, I go. If he tells me to slow down, I slow down.'' Hagan began working on trains 33 years ago and can't recall a railroad worker ever being cited for blocking a road. ''It was kind of funny, but what are you going to do?'' he said. ''When the police officer hit me with the summons, I was kind of shocked.'' Still, Hagan said he understands the importance of keeping roads open to vehicle traffic. ''The issue is blocking the road crossing in a time of emergency, and of course, we feel the same way,'' he said. Hagan has reported the matter to the CSX legal division. ''I think the law will show that it isn't the engineer that is responsible,'' he said. ''It is kind of funny, but what are you going to do?''
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