(The following story by Joe Sinopoli of GateHouse News Service appeared at ChicagoSuburbanNews.com on May 10.)
LA GRANGE, Ill. — La Grange police Lt. Vic Arnold said he still can’t figure out why people don’t get it.
Walking or driving around a railroad crossing gate can be deadly.
Over the past six months La Grange officers have issued 116 citations to pedestrians and drivers for doing the unthinkable: ignoring the flashing lights and bells at a crossing and trying to race a train.
On May 15, La Grange and all the communities from Chicago to Aurora served by the Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad line, will join a national effort to raise awareness of crossing safety. For violators it will be a hard lesson.
Officers from all participating towns will be posted at all BNSF crossings enforcing a zero-tolerance campaign that can mean a hefty citation of $250 for anyone crossing the tracks illegally — on foot or behind the wheel.
“We hope to save lives,” Arnold said. “Most people walk around the gate because they are not paying attention or are in a hurry. Or they see a train stopped and they think it’s all right. Then a train comes down the middle track and it’s too late.”
Grants issued by the Illinois Department of Transportation have been made available to police and safety agencies to provide Operation Lifesaver education programs and heightened enforcement efforts.
According to the Federal Railroad Administration, there were 144 fatalities in Illinois from 2001 to 2005. During that same period, 380 people were injured as a result of railroad crossing accidents.
Riverside Assistant Police Chief Thomas Weitzel said an education campaign was started last year as the first phase of the village’s latest railroad crossing safety program. The Riverside grant was initiated by Fire Chief Kevin Mulligan.
“This is just one more blitz we are adding to a campaign of stricter enforcement that we began last fall,” Weitzel said regarding the May 15 event.
Both police and Riverside firefighters and paramedics will be at the crossing May 15; fire officials will hand out educational brochures while police will issue citations.
“We routinely deal with the surviving family members,” Weitzel said. “Part of our responsibility is to make the death notification. It’s devastating. It’s not something that officers line up to do.”