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6024 2018-09-26 Troop G Rail Safety Week Enforcement Detail in Caddo Parish


TROOP G NEWS RELEASE
September 26, 2018

Rail Safety Week Enforcement Detail in Caddo Parish

Caddo Parish – This morning Louisiana State Police Troop G Troopers and Union Pacific Railroad Police Officers conducted a railroad grade crossing enforcement detail on LA 1 in Caddo Parish.

Troopers and officers were looking for drivers who failed to yield the right of way to a train as it approached a crossing as well as other violations. A total of 47 traffic citations including 39 for failure to obey a signal indicating the approach of a train were issued.

Louisiana state law requires motorists to obey signals at railroad crossings indicating a train is approaching including flashing red lights and/or lowered gates. Failure to obey these signals may result in a fine of up to $200.00 and 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.

Operation Lifesaver, Inc. (OLI), the national rail safety education organization, is working in partnership with the U.S. Department of Transportation and other organizations to observe Rail Safety Week (RSW), September 23-29, 2018. Today’s event was also part of the nationwide Operation Clear Track enforcement campaign.

While the number of highway-rail crossing collisions, deaths and injuries has dropped over the past five decades, it’s still a startling fact that about every three hours in the U.S., a person or vehicle is hit by a train. The goal of RSW is to raise awareness across the United States of the need for rail safety education and empower the general public to keep themselves safe near highway-rail grade crossings and railroad rights-of-way.

Contact information:
TPR Glenn Younger
Louisiana State Police
Troop G Public Affairs
Office: 318.741.7409
glenn.younger@la.gov
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