edblysardActually, I have cut crossings near fire stations for just that reason...most of the neighborhood near our tracks are...well, you get the idea, the ambulances and first responders are kept busy, and if we know we are going to be sitting on more than one crossing, we cut the one nearest the station. And just like Erik pointed out...under Texas law, I can’t get the ticket...the yardmaster or trainmaster who instructed me to occupy the crossing does. Which is why I don't carry my TDL with me at work...had a cop threaten to arrest me because I wouldn't produce my drivers license for him, so he could ticket me...I pointed out that I was not operating a motor vehicle on public roads, so my TDL wasn’t needed...he said I had to have it for ID purposes...I pointed out it was nothing more than a permit to operate a motor vehicle on Texas roads, not a state issued ID card, and that no state or federal law I know of requires anyone to carry any form of internal passport or papers, including and ID card…only that you provide the officer with the required information when asked, name, address, age…and that it was up to the police to confirm who I say I am, not up to me to prove it...I offered him my railroad issued ID, he threw it on the ground, got all angry...I called the TM, who called our attorney, who showed up and explained to the cop that I was right. The cop’s supervisor showed up too...agreed with our attorney. Here is why I don’t carry my TDL with me...If I was to be issued a citation, it would go on my driving record, and my insurance would go up...and Texas just started a point system. The DPS, Texas Department of Public Safety has issued an official bulletin to all of the State Troopers and Texas Rangers stating that asking a train crew member for a Texas drivers license during a grade crossing accident investigation, or when issuing a citation for blocked crossing is not legal, nor is it proper procedure. I carry my railroad ID and rules card on a beaded chain around my neck...no wallet...on purpose. Ed I have known a couple of engineers that had problems with insurance because of using their DL's for ID. The accidents were listed on the DL and the insurance company used it as a reason to up the premiums. Richard QUOTE: Originally posted by braund91 QUOTE: Originally posted by pat390 A couple months ago a CN train was blocking 5 out of 7 of the crossings in town, I had the scanner on and the cops were having all kinds of problems because of this. After about 15-20 minutes the train moved on out of town, but it was pretty funny while it lasted. Pretty funny until that interrupts an ambulance run. Then it's not so funny.
I have known a couple of engineers that had problems with insurance because of using their DL's for ID. The accidents were listed on the DL and the insurance company used it as a reason to up the premiums.
Richard
QUOTE: Originally posted by braund91 QUOTE: Originally posted by pat390 A couple months ago a CN train was blocking 5 out of 7 of the crossings in town, I had the scanner on and the cops were having all kinds of problems because of this. After about 15-20 minutes the train moved on out of town, but it was pretty funny while it lasted.
Still, its good reading.
trainboyH16-44BNSF2828I was train watching from a parking lot after waiting for an hour for East bound i finly herd the horn the crossing gates started to go down as soon the loco hit the crossing 3 sheriff cars came to a halt with full sierins and lights on talk about bad timing. Ah, nothing like someone ressurecting 3 year old threads with off topic replies that wouldn't add anything to most discussions...
BNSF2828I was train watching from a parking lot after waiting for an hour for East bound i finly herd the horn the crossing gates started to go down as soon the loco hit the crossing 3 sheriff cars came to a halt with full sierins and lights on talk about bad timing.
Ah, nothing like someone ressurecting 3 year old threads with off topic replies that wouldn't add anything to most discussions...
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QUOTE: Originally posted by braund91 QUOTE: Originally posted by pat390 A couple months ago a CN train was blocking 5 out of 7 of the crossings in town, I had the scanner on and the cops were having all kinds of problems because of this. After about 15-20 minutes the train moved on out of town, but it was pretty funny while it lasted. Pretty funny until that interrupts an ambulance run. Then it's not so funny.
QUOTE: Originally posted by pat390 A couple months ago a CN train was blocking 5 out of 7 of the crossings in town, I had the scanner on and the cops were having all kinds of problems because of this. After about 15-20 minutes the train moved on out of town, but it was pretty funny while it lasted.
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QUOTE: Originally posted by Dutchrailnut If emergency responce is such a big concern it should be up to town board to suggest to built an overpass or tunnel . towns tread railroads as cash cows and even tax them on the crossing, so the railroad owns it and town has right of passage, if its convenient to the taxpayer (railroad)
Dan
QUOTE: Originally posted by wabash1 you must make sure the railroad pays it other wise one day if the police check you out and there is a warrent for your arrest for this guess who goes to jail. and i am going to tell the road forman that ed says i cant be held resposible for anything that happens .
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QUOTE: Originally posted by erikthered About a year ago, if memory serves me correctly, there was an incident involving a police officer and a UP train blocking a crossing. Apparently, the crew ended up dead on the law and had left the train. In any event, the officer contacted UP dispatch and continued to write citation after citation... and UP ended up paying something like $100,000 in fines. (It must have been a REALLY slow day for that particular officer!) Erik
QUOTE: Originally posted by ValleyX QUOTE: Originally posted by edblysard Broken knuckles, busted air hose, things of that nature are "acts of God" and most of the time the ticket or citation is dismissed... Time allowed to block crossings without movement depends on the local ordinance...here in Houston it is 10 minutes... Ed Thanks, Ed, now I know what I'm going to tell the RFE if I'm unlucky enough to get a knuckle.[:D]
QUOTE: Originally posted by edblysard Broken knuckles, busted air hose, things of that nature are "acts of God" and most of the time the ticket or citation is dismissed... Time allowed to block crossings without movement depends on the local ordinance...here in Houston it is 10 minutes... Ed
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
QUOTE: Originally posted by csx-dispatcher To who ever this concerns.....We have posted list of crossings that we are to stay off of. If the crew does come down on that crossing to p/u or s/o, the county can ticket the "company". The crews know they have to keep their train out of town and bring their power into to town to pickup. Now there are situations if we have a train in emergency, that cannot be helped. I use to run on an engine....There was this road that ran next to our tracks for 15 miles or so and we had a state police beside the track following us. He had his lights on pointing as us. So we stopped thinking somthing was wrong with our train. The funny thing is when we got down to talk to him he wanted to give us a ticket for going 10mph over the street posted speed limit which is 40mph. We laughed and went on our way.
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