Trespassers fined after emergency train stop

Thursday, 11 June 2009

by Kara Hildreth Thisweek Newspapers Enforcing trespass laws can be a challenge for local law enforcement, but Farmington Police officers are serious about handing out citations and fines to people who trespass on train tracks. During the last week of school Tuesday, May 26, Farmington Police Chief Brian Lindquist said two juvenile girls were on the train tracks apparently unaware of the loud sound of a train moving southbound toward them. The train conductor realized the two girls were not going to move in time and  made an emergency stop after the train crossed Elm Street. The halted train blocked traffic on the main street into town for a half hour. Farmington Police Officer Andrew Van Dorn saw the train coming and yelled at the girls to get off the track, Lindquist said. The girls may have been listening to a cell phone or headphone music that prevented them from hearing the train. Van Dorn issued tickets to both girls since they were breaking the law by trespassing on railroad company property. This citation is a misdemeanor and can carry a fine up to $1,000, Lindquist said. The railroad is used as a pathway routinely and has been for years, Lindquist said. Local law enforcement has been working for years to remind people to stay off the tracks. Since verbal warnings from police officers have not worked in past years, Lindquist said the city will soon place up to 12 “no trespassing” signs from the railway company. If the signs don’t change behavior, then maybe a citation and fine will deter people from congregating near the train tracks, and more importantly keeping them safe from walking on the tracks, Lindquist said. “We are going to look at this by approaching it in a zero tolerance type of way,” Lindquist said. Verbal warnings will end soon and police will begin ticketing anyone who is found trespassing on the train tracks. The train tracks are near two middle schools and Rambling River Park. Past complaints from railroad staff have said children have placed things on the railroad tracks, were playing games and throwing objects at passing trains. Kara Hildreth is at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it Comments (0) Subscribe to this comment's feed Write comment Name Email Comment smaller | bigger Subscribe via email (Registered users only) I have read and agree to the Terms of Usage. Write the displayed characters Add Comment

Last Updated ( Wednesday, 26 August 2009 )

 

< Prev		Next >