Now
Fair
45°
High
58°
Low
34°
Full Forecast

Jobs

Cars

Homes

Rentals

Alerts

Subscribe
Home > News > Politics
Bookmark Us   •   Make Us Your Homepage

Bill would increase fines for blocking rail crossings

Comments 3 comment(s)  
E-mail Story E-mail Story
Print Story Print Story
Share  Share
Text Size: 
Tools Sponsor

By The Associated Press

Tuesday, Jan 22, 2008 - 04:21:10 pm CST

There isn’t much traffic in unincorporated towns and villages, but a rural state lawmaker wants to make extra sure drivers there don’t suffer through any train-caused traffic jams.

Senator Annette Dubas of Fullerton introduced a bill (LB1069) that would stiffen fines against railroads for blocking highways, streets or alleys in unincorporated towns and villages for more than 10 minutes.

Railroads now can be fined at least $10 and up to just $100. Dubas wants those guilty of lingering too long to be fined $1,000.

Story Photo

Related Link(s):


Around the Rotunda blog

Dubas has had her sites set on railroads for some time.

Last year she tried to pass a law that would have imposed fines of up to $5,000 each time a railroad crossing is blocked for more than 10 minutes.


$1 Sunday Delivery - Subscribe Today!
Politics > Back to Top of Story

Post Your Comment

Standards and Rules
All posts to JournalStar.com are subject to our Terms and Standards.
Your posted comment will appear after it has been approved.
Frequently asked questions about story commenting.
(optional)
   
Hide Comments Hide Comments   Newest First Newest First  
HPG wrote on January 22, 2008 6:32 pm:
" It's about time! This should be a law throughout the US. Yes, I know that trains deliver many goods throughout the country, but so do 18 wheelers and they are subject to certain laws. Why should a train be above the law just because it is a train and they have a very powerful lobby? "

 Mj wrote on January 22, 2008 7:04 pm:
" Those fines are pretty small. While the authors of this article are concerned with traffic jams, the real problem is actually safety. Rural communities don't have two fire engines - one for each side of the tracks. So in an emergency it is wait or go around, and who knows how long it can take to go around.

While sometimes it is unavoidable, many of the stops are avoidable with proper planning and incentive. "

 Terry wrote on January 22, 2008 8:32 pm:
" Good but not enough. It should apply to ALL areas, and the fine should start at $10,000 and increase by $1000 a minute after 10 minutes. And it is a safety issue. Where I work IN LINCON, I can't count the number of times the only access to the area has been blocked for OVER AN HOUR! Calls to BNSF, if you can get anyone to answer the phone, usually fall on deaf ears, or get transfered to someone in Fort Worth who doesn't even know where Lincoln is. "

Ads by Yahoo!

Also in Politics