If you have an emergency, call 911 or 362-5111.
If you do not have an emergency but would like an officer response you can call 362-5115. Or you can view our contact page here
Railroad Crossing Awareness
LOOK, LISTEN & LIVE
Because your life, and the lives of others, depends on your skill as a driver, improving driving skills is an effort worth making. Everyone agrees that nearly all traffic collisions can be prevented if drivers stay alert, think ahead and practice safe driving habits.
About every 90 minutes, a vehicle and train collide in the United States. Did you know you are 30 times more likely to die in a crash with a train than with another motor vehicle? To avoid a crash with a train, always obey pertinent laws and traffic warning signals. Use caution and be prepared to stop, look, listen and live. Remember:
Never stop on the tracks; do not enter a crossing unless you have enough space to fully clear the railroad tracks on the other side. When stopping at some crossing a white line is painted on the surface it is back fifteen feet from the tracks. The gauge between rails is four feet, eight and a half inches plus the train hangs three feet past the rails. A total of almost eleven feet, for a train to be on the railroad tracks.
After starting across the crossing and the gate comes down, drive the vehicle on across even if it means breaking the gate. In emergency situations crossing gates are designed to break. Never drive around a lowered crossing gate, you could be issued a citation or be arrested for breaking the law. If you suspect a signal is malfunctioning, telephone the local law enforcement agency immediately.
Cross the tracks only at the designated roadway or pedestrian crossings. If you do not use the correct crossings, you are trespassing on the railroads private property.
Each year more people are killed at highway-rail crossings, because they don't have the time to wait for the train. Is a few minutes worth your life? When a train is coming at you it is an optical illusion of the speed and number of cars behind the locomotive. Any time is “train time”; they do not keep typical schedules.
OFFICER AND COMMUNITY RESPONSIBILITIES
It is the responsibility of every uniformed officer to enforce the State’s traffic laws and to educate the community on the importance of traffic safety. These efforts, combined with the active participation of community members following the rules of the roads, will help ensure the safety of motorists throughout the City.
Additional railroad safety links and information