Get on board the safety train
Enforcement operation begins in Kootenai County
COEUR d’ALENE — City, county and state law enforcement officers conducted an Officer on a Train and Adopt a Crossing enforcement operation in North Idaho on Thursday.
The purpose of the operation was to enforce laws pertaining to highway/railroad intersections, increasing public awareness of the potential dangers that exist at those crossings and eliminating driver actions that can have tragic consequences.
The enforcement program is one of three parts of the Operation Lifesaver effort, which include engineering and education designed to eliminate car/train collisions.
The Officer on a Train program has one officer placed in the lead locomotive of a train as a spotter. This officer observes traffic approaching the highway rail intersections as the train proceeds down the tracks. Other officers pace the train or are parked at specific locations. When a motorist is observed violating the laws pertaining to the approaching intersection, the officer on the train radios one of the chase cars which stop the motorist, explain the dangers and issue a citation.
With the Adopt a Crossing approach, city, county and state law enforcement officers from throughout North Idaho will pick a crossing and enforce the laws that pertain to the crossing.
During 2014, there were 22 car/train collisions and four trespassing incidents. This year to date, there have been 12 car/train collisions reported and five trespassing incidents.
Since 1990, the Officer on a Train and Adopt a Crossing programs have been instrumental in helping reduce the number of car/train collisions in the state.
City, county and state law enforcement agencies — as well as state and federal agencies, private businesses and railroads that operate in the state — sponsor the Idaho Operation Lifesaver program.
Idaho Operation Lifesaver is dedicated to eliminating car/train collisions, which result in preventable deaths and injuries. For additional information or to schedule a free presentation, call Idaho Operation Lifesaver at 208-412-2481.