The Turlock Police Department Traffic Safety Unit will be coordinating efforts with Union Pacific Railroad Police on January 13, 2011 from 8:00 am to 11:00 am. They will be targeting railroad related traffic violations as part of Operation Lifesaver.
Operation Lifesaver’s mission is to end collisions, deaths and injuries at highway-rail grade crossings and on rail property through a nationwide network of volunteers who work to educate people about rail safety. Additionally, local and railroad law enforcement use enforcement to reduce railroad related collisions.
Union Pacific uses a special train that travels the length of the railroad tracks that traverse Turlock. Officers wait near crossings and watch for violations. The Operation Lifesaver train travels very slowly and is only a few cars long. An officer will ride on the train and alert other officers via radio when violations occur. The most common violations are crossing under or around crossing arms and stopped on railroad tracks. The law requires vehicles stop at least seven feet away, even when there is no train coming.
