Be warned - expensive traffic ticket!!

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snowangel03

New member
I don't know if this is happening everywhere, but it is happening in DuPage County in IL.

If you are stopped at train tracks waiting for a train and the train goes by DO NOT cross those tracks until the gates are completely up and the lights are off!!! My husband almost got a ticket for this last night in Villa Park, IL and I just found out that his sister actually got a ticket for this in Wheaton, IL. It is at least a $225 fine. She went to court and had to pay the fine plus court costs. It was either that or 30 hours community service. She said that is was a sting operation going on in Wheaton. I call it a cheap shot and trying to get money in the town. And its B.S.

I am telling everyone I know about this.
 
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bpsledder

Member
Same goes for walking across Metra platforms, but that fine may actually be $500. My friend's dad worked for the railroad for over 30 years and the stories I've heard has kept me waiting to cross (driving/walking) the tracks until lights and bells are off and not the monetary fine.
 
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pman

New member
Thanks for the warning....I didn't know that. I used to live near the North Ave./Addison Rd. train crossing....dangerous crossing.
 
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sjshaner

New member
I do work for the railroad and you would not believe some of the close calls I have been involved with. One of the reasons that the fines are so expensive is A LOT of people ignore the flashing lights and try to make it under or around the gates before the train comes. In the 'burbs from Maywood out to Elburn, most of the towns have gotten themselves declared "quiet" zones so the trains do not blow their horns. I personally am afraid I will kill someone everytime I go over crossings. I think a little noise in the form of the train horn is worth a life but the majority in these town do not feel so. The towns take over the liability if someone is killed by a train so these fines may be a way to pay for it. I do know that in Wisconsin if you go around the gates or ignore the flashing lights at an ungated crossing the fine is $400 to $500.

Please Please when you approach an ungated crossing slow down and look both ways. When at a crossing with the gates coming down, down, or going up, WAIT until the gates are fully raised and the lights are off, look both ways then and only then proceed. On most railroads with 2 or more main lines trains can be coming from either direction at any speed. It is not uncommon for a faster train to overtake and pass a slower train traveling in the same direction. Many people are hit because they see the slower train and think they can make it only to be hit by the faster train they didn't see on the far track passing the slow train on the near track.

Is your life worth 5 extra minutes waiting for a train? I think so.
 
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chicagosledder

New member
Why is everyone in such a hurry, just wait crossing against the gates is not worth your life. As far a sting goes look at it this way you or your husband will never forget it and probably won't do it again. I am not trying to be sarcastic I just don't want to see people killed.
 
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timo

Well-known member
not sure what your complaining about. you deserved a ticket. like somoene said its cheaper than funeral.
 
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kbuchan

New member
when I was in Russia they had arms and lights and big steel plates in the road that raised so no going past the arms there.
 
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doomsman

New member
Come on people you are saying you wait till
the arms are all the way up and the lights quit
to step on the gas, four cars behind you are honking.
 
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dekx

New member
timo said:
not sure what your complaining about. you deserved a ticket. like somoene said its cheaper than funeral.
Click to expand...

Agreed, you have your driver's lecense and supposidly red the rules of the road book and it is in there...nothing new....use to be a hefty fine before....
 
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cuzzinolaf

Well-known member
chicagosledder said:
Why is everyone in such a hurry, just wait crossing against the gates is not worth your life. As far a sting goes look at it this way you or your husband will never forget it and probably won't do it again. I am not trying to be sarcastic I just don't want to see people killed.
Click to expand...

Exactly. Are you gonna get to you final destination 10 seconds faster by crossing the line as the gate goes up? LOL
 
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zr500rider

New member
I think some are missing the point here. They are not just out there harrassing people for no reason. Those flashing lights are a stop sign! Do some of you people "roll" stop signs? The gates are to try and keep people from doing just that! Makes me wonder how many on here roll thru a stop sign on the trails too (i've seen it way too much). It's just a couple minutes and not worth your life.....amazed at how we can view some things as an inconvienence. Not ment to affend anyone at all just want people reading this to maybe think about what it could cost them....(forget about the ticket)!
 
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