The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Metrolink Bureau, partnered with the Fontana Police Department, the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Police Department, and the Union Pacific Police Department, to enforce traffic laws at rail grade crossings in the City of Fontana, California, on Wednesday, September 7, 2016, from 6:30 to 9:15 AM. The goal of the grade crossing enforcement operation was to bring awareness through education and enforcement. Each of the departments fanned out around the city to monitor rail crossings during the enforcement period.
Approximately 1600 vehicles and pedestrians crossed the railroad tracks during this period.
23 citations were issued for vehicular grade crossing and other vehicle code violations.
No arrests were made nor pedestrians cited.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has shown that railroad deaths have increased year over year, and the vast majority of fatalities are trespassers, including those struck by trains at rail grade crossings. Rail grade crossing accidents involving Metrolink trains, like those in Burbank, Oxnard, and just recently in Sun Valley, remind us of how just one vehicle making contact with a train travelling at an average speed of over 60 miles per hour, can cost the lives of motorists and train passengers alike. Enforcement operations like this one have been shown to reduce the number of safety incidents involving vehicles and pedestrians.
Although Metrolink Bureau units routinely patrol rail grade crossings when not answering calls for service, the Sheriff’s Metrolink Bureau will partner with several law enforcement agencies throughout Rail Safety Month for targeted enforcement at certain crossings along the rail system.
If you want to report crime or a law enforcement issue aboard a Metrolink train please call the LASD Metrolink Bureau at (888) 950-SAFE (7233), or if you wish to remain anonymous, you can call “LA Crime Stoppers” by dialing 800-222-TIPS (8477), use your smartphone by downloading the “P3 MOBILE APP” on Google play or the App Store, or by using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org
For Metrolink train information including fares, schedules, and station information and locations, please call (800) 371-LINK (5465), or go to the Metrolink website http://www.metrolinktrains.com/
Please remember, if you SEE SOMETHING that you believe is suspicious or doesn’t look right to you, SAY SOMETHING by calling: (888) 950-SAFE (7233), or your local police department. You can also use the Transit Watch LA App, to report crime or advise of something/someone suspicious on the transit system. The App can be downloaded at the Apple App Store, or on Google Play for Android Devices. http://transitwatchla.org/ (remember though, calling is always best!!)
To receive detailed, up-to-date information directly from the LASD via e-mail, register for "Nixle" alerts at www.Nixle.com and register for "LASD-Transit Policing Division HQ, Los Angeles County Sheriff" and also register for your local LASD station area. Or, text “LASD Transit HQ” to 888777 to receive text alerts only. Standard text messaging rates may apply, depending on your calling plan.
Written by / Media Inquiries:
Ramon Montenegro, L.E.T.
Transit Policing Division – Public Information Officer
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
(213) 922-3649
24 Hr.: (888) 950-SAFE (7233)
Email: [email protected]
Transit Watch LA website: http://www.transitwatchla.org/
LASD website: www.lasd.org
Twitter: @TransitLASD http://twitter.com/TransitLASD
Facebook LASD Metro Transit Services: http://www.facebook.com/LASDMetroTransitServices
Instagram LASD Transit Photos: http://www.instagram.com/LASDTransitPIO
Periscope LASD Transit PIO: http://www.periscope.com/LASDTransitPIO
Address/Location
LASD - Transit Policing Division, Los Angeles County Sheriff
One Gateway Plaza, Mail Stop: 99-PL-15
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Contact
Emergency: 9-1-1
Non-Emergency: (888) 950-SAFE (7233)
Jim McDonnell, Sheriff
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
