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Trying to ticket and fine train crews.

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Posted by Dutchrailnut on Thursday, April 13, 2006 7:31 PM
appeal to state/feds etc.
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Posted by edblysard on Thursday, April 13, 2006 10:37 PM
Actually, 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


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.

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Posted by mackb4 on Thursday, April 13, 2006 11:41 PM
Around 13 years ago our local trainmaster was hauled off to the county jail for his Kenova (WVa) locals blocking crossings.The railroad posted his bail and I'm not sure if anyone was ticketed,but I'm sure a fine was given to the railroad.The city has eased off in resent years,but I'm sure they monitor crossing.I just wish I could get the tags of all the cars,trucks,etc,that run the gates on me.Because they all would get a ticket [:(!] !

Collin ,operator of the " Eastern Kentucky & Ohio R.R."

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Posted by Anonymous on Friday, April 14, 2006 7:12 AM
I've met the local NS trainmaster... it would be pretty rough trying to track him down and arresting him... he doesn't stay in one place very long. The tried and true law enforcement method of staking out the girlfriend or wife wouldn't work either... he said he doesn't see his family much.

I can't imagine any of the local judges issuing a warrant on the guy- which would be the only way any cop would go out hunting for him. If we hauled him off to jail he would lose his cell phone... and NS operations in this neck of the woods would crash.

Erik
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Posted by BNSF2828 on Wednesday, January 21, 2009 3:56 AM
I 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.
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Posted by trainboyH16-44 on Thursday, January 22, 2009 6:11 PM

BNSF2828
I 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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Posted by ValleyX on Friday, January 23, 2009 7:54 PM
trainboyH16-44

BNSF2828
I 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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Posted by sovablunt on Saturday, January 24, 2009 1:11 AM

 Still, its good reading.

A Dutchman was explaining the red, white, and blue Netherlands flag to an American. "Our flag is symbolic of our taxes. We get red when we talk about them, white when we get our tax bills, and blue after we pay them." The American nodded. "It's the same in the USA only we see stars too!"-courtesy of Herman de Zwaan
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Posted by Kevin C. Smith on Saturday, January 24, 2009 3:31 AM

 

Oh, shoot. I read through all three pages (on not very fast dialup) without noticing the date... Still it was interesting.
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Posted by fire5506 on Saturday, January 24, 2009 6:17 PM

 

edblysard
Actually, 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.

 

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