| id | cleanReleaseDate | troopName | title |
| 3064 | 2015-07-16 | Troop D | Officer on the Train Rail Safety Enforcement Detail in Sulphur |
TROOP D NEWS RELEASE July 16, 2015 Officer on the Train Rail Safety Enforcement Detail in Sulphur SULPHUR, LA – In 2014, 13 people lost their lives in highway grade crossing collisions in Louisiana and another 8 people lost their lives while trespassing on railroad property in our state. In an effort to combat this problem, Louisiana State Police Troop D and the Sulphur Police Department, in cooperation with Union Pacific, conducted a railroad grade crossing enforcement detail today along the track parallel to U.S. 90 in and near the city of Sulphur in Calcasieu Parish. Troopers and officers were looking for drivers who ignored railroad crossing warning signals as a train approached, trucks carrying hazardous materials that did not stop and check for a train as required by law, drivers who stopped on the track, and trespassers upon railroad property. During an officer on a train event, the railroad works with law enforcement to bring officers into a locomotive cab for a unique, real-time perspective of motorist and pedestrian activity as a train moves through the community. Meanwhile, other law enforcement officers are stationed along the railroad right of way, watching for crossing and trespasser violations and issuing citations. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), three out of four crashes occur within 25 miles of a driver’s home, and half occur within five miles of their home. A comparison of statistics from NHTSA and the Federal Railroad Administration reveals that a motorist’s collision with a train is far more likely to result in a fatality than a collision between two motor vehicles. During today’s 3-hour enforcement detail a total of 12 citations were issued including 8 for disregarding flashing signals indicating the approach of a train and driving around crossing gates, 1 for failure of a commercial motor vehicle carrying hazardous material to stop, 1 for stopping on a railroad track, and 2 for driving under suspension. Louisiana state law requires motorists to obey signals at railroad crossings that indicate the approach of a train including flashing red lights and/or lowered gates. Failure to obey these signals may result in a fine of up to $200 and/or up to 30 days in jail for a first offense with higher fines and increased jail time possible for additional violations. The fine for racing a train is up to $1,000. The Louisiana State Police is a staunch advocate of Operation Lifesaver, an international, non-profit education and awareness program dedicated to ending tragic collisions, fatalities, and injuries at highway-rail grade crossings and on railroads’ rights of way. For additional information about Operation Lifesaver or its community education programs, contact the Louisiana Operation Lifesaver State Coordinator Claude Maher at 225-921-8381 or via email at operationlifesaver@la.gov. You may also visit the Operation Lifesaver web site at www.oli.org. Contact Information: Sgt. James Anderson Louisiana State Police Public Affairs Section Office: (337) 491-2932 james.l.anderson@la.gov www.LSP.org www.facebook.com/LouisianaStatePolice | |||
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