Be warned - expensive traffic ticket!!!

[snowangel03]

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.

 

[xcr440]

Well, that's what they are there for, to WAIT for the train, and the "all clear". What happens if you cross that first set of tracks and there is another coming the other direction on a second set of tracks?

SPLAT!!!

 

[snowangel03]

Ya? Well I can tell you right now, the next time I'm sitting there waiting that entire time for the gates to go completely up and those lights to turn off? The guy behind me is going to be beeping at me and flipping me off because I'm not moving fast enough for them. Besides, you have to be a complete idiot if you're not cautious about proceeding. I never go across any tracks without looking both ways. What if the gates are broke? It's just a cheap shot at bringing in more cash to the crooks in the villages and towns!!!

 

[HIGHLANDER]

i wouldnt worry about it, just look around for cops 1st. you should have plenty of time while the trains passing

 

[upsledder]

Just tonight I was talking about this sort of thing with my sister. She lives in Woodstock. She said there is some other little town right around there (Can't think of the name) that is known for being one of the worst for that sort of thing. She also told me that court costs in IL are outrageous. Thing is, It's getting so you can't hide from ridiculous laws and fines anywhere anymore....even while sledding in the U.P.

 

[sjshaner]

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.

 

[sjshaner]

Good Reason not to go around gates.

Here is a good reason not to go around gates.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyIXfhTka-A

 

[Marty P]

The scam is the IL Toll Way

That is nothing compared to the Illinois Toll Way scam, left that “POS” (Schaumburg) six years ago for the Keweenaw, best decision I have ever made! Back to the toll way story, to make a long story short (hopefully):

Went to renew my MI driver’s license last year and was informed that IL, a reciprocity state, had a hold on it and I would have to contact them to get a release. Contacted “IL Driver Services Dept” and the very helpful young lady actually said “Oh no, it’s with the “IL Toll Way, good luck, the stories I’ve heard are bad”. Anyway, contacted the Toll Way and was advised that the release on my license was going to cost me $477.10, no exception, no settlement, just send the money or you won’t get a driver’s license. Being who I am, I continued with the discussion and discovered that the cause of this $477.10 fee was incurred due to $2.10 in unpaid tolls from 2004; the $475.00 was the penalties. Once again this individual was surprisingly very helpful and understanding in fact she almost sounded embarrassed but, there was nothing that could be done about it other than pay the fine, she did comment that it was nothing compared to some she had seen and I should be happy. But I digress; continuing the discussion further revealed that I still had an active “I-pass” account (insert home run here) and by paying a $20.00 fine for letting the I-pass balance reach $0.00, plus paying the $2.10 in missed tolls I was good to go. Holy Wah…got lucky on this one, final total $22.10...

Wishing everyone good luck in the “Big City”…lol

 

[xcr440]

Ya? Well I can tell you right now, the next time I'm sitting there waiting that entire time for the gates to go completely up and those lights to turn off? The guy behind me is going to be beeping at me and flipping me off because I'm not moving fast enough for them. Besides, you have to be a complete idiot if you're not cautious about proceeding. I never go across any tracks without looking both ways. What if the gates are broke? It's just a cheap shot at bringing in more cash to the crooks in the villages and towns!!!

You are going to stick your life out in front of a train because some jack-o-lantern is beeping at you from behind? Wow. I'd sit there an extra 30 seconds for that one and wave at the azz wipe while I'm at it.

 

[snoduke]

I just read in my local paper this morning where a girl in Chi area was killed by train last night!!!!!!!!!1

 

[cuzzinolaf]

How many places are you going to post this? You broke the law, got a warning, and now come here to complain. Don't be in such a rush next time.

 

[polarisrider1]

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.

I call it the law. Nobody wants to scrap you off the tracks.

 

[anonomoose]

Oh, for cripe sakes....listen to all the goody two shoes on here.

You sit for the train which has the lights flashing and gates down.

ONE set of tracks....

The train goes by....and for a few the gates are still down but now start to go up...before the lights hit the top and shut off...90% of the world goes over the tracks.

Nobody said she was trying to beat a train which is foolish and unhealthy...she simply got caught by "technically" getting caught by a cop who said..."ah..HAH....got yah!" Leaving over the tracks 2 seconds before the lights go out.

And instead of giving her a warning and telling her that technically you have to wait until every single light is out and the gate is completely upright...she gets a ticket....or nearly got one. So she is warning folks to watch out.

And anybody who has ever been around one of these gates knows that if there are two tracks and one train is leaving and another is about to come by THE TRACK GATE WILL STAY DOWN.

So cut her some slack here for telling folks on John Dee about this little great way to rake in the dough....and be aware of not only other trains but any cops sitting around waiting to nail the first guy over the tracks.

 

[snoduke]

About two tracks sometimes ther is a malfuntion. I worked 2nd shift and I had gate open when another was very near. Told police about it and they looked at me like I was nuts, next week policemen had same thing happen to him. then they got them fived.

 

[peter]

That is nothing compared to the Illinois Toll Way scam, left that “POS” (Schaumburg) six years ago for the Keweenaw, best decision I have ever made! Back to the toll way story, to make a long story short (hopefully):

Went to renew my MI driver’s license last year and was informed that IL, a reciprocity state, had a hold on it and I would have to contact them to get a release. Contacted “IL Driver Services Dept” and the very helpful young lady actually said “Oh no, it’s with the “IL Toll Way, good luck, the stories I’ve heard are bad”. Anyway, contacted the Toll Way and was advised that the release on my license was going to cost me $477.10, no exception, no settlement, just send the money or you won’t get a driver’s license. Being who I am, I continued with the discussion and discovered that the cause of this $477.10 fee was incurred due to $2.10 in unpaid tolls from 2004; the $475.00 was the penalties. Once again this individual was surprisingly very helpful and understanding in fact she almost sounded embarrassed but, there was nothing that could be done about it other than pay the fine, she did comment that it was nothing compared to some she had seen and I should be happy. But I digress; continuing the discussion further revealed that I still had an active “I-pass” account (insert home run here) and by paying a $20.00 fine for letting the I-pass balance reach $0.00, plus paying the $2.10 in missed tolls I was good to go. Holy Wah…got lucky on this one, final total $22.10...

Wishing everyone good luck in the “Big City”…lol

I have ipass that did not register at O'hare toll took 2 years for tollway to mail fines and letter. When I called and told them I had ipass they looked up plate # they had picture of and said we'll deduct .80 cents. You think they would look up plate # before sending threating letter and fines.

 

[robocopf7]

As a Police Officer, I have some advice. Anyone can look up the laws in your state, as most are now online. Find the law regarding the crossing arms and lights, and see that the statute says. If it says that you have to wait until everything is up and lights are off, then thats what the law is. If you do not agree with that, contact your legislator and get the law changed,not complain that the law is being enforced. Also, local law enforcement makes very little off the revenue from citations, as the majority of it goes to the State. I cannot say I speak for all of law enforcement, but my opinion is if you do not agree with a law, contact those that pass those laws, not those that have to enforce them. Our Michigan Motor Vehicle Code, which is the book of all of the motor vehicle laws, is about 3 inches thick. Cops did not make those laws, but have take the heat for enforcing them. Many of the little laws are ridiculous, I know, but place the blame where it is due. The majority of police officers are simply out there trying to make the world safer for everyone, not hang tickets on as many people as possible. It is possible that a state grant was sent out to enforce crossing laws due to a high number of crossing incidents. It happens with speed traps and drunk driving enforcement zones.

 

[thunderstruck88]

I call it the law. Nobody wants to scrap you off the tracks.

I agree whole heartedly with you Polarisrider1 People these days got to stop and smell the roses before they cross the train tracks or they will be haivng roses at there grave sites !!!!!!!!!!! OBEY the LAW!!!!!!!

 

[anonomoose]

As a Police Officer, I have some advice. Anyone can look up the laws in your state, as most are now online. Find the law regarding the crossing arms and lights, and see that the statute says. If it says that you have to wait until everything is up and lights are off, then thats what the law is. If you do not agree with that, contact your legislator and get the law changed,not complain that the law is being enforced. Also, local law enforcement makes very little off the revenue from citations, as the majority of it goes to the State. I cannot say I speak for all of law enforcement, but my opinion is if you do not agree with a law, contact those that pass those laws, not those that have to enforce them. Our Michigan Motor Vehicle Code, which is the book of all of the motor vehicle laws, is about 3 inches thick. Cops did not make those laws, but have take the heat for enforcing them. Many of the little laws are ridiculous, I know, but place the blame where it is due. The majority of police officers are simply out there trying to make the world safer for everyone, not hang tickets on as many people as possible. It is possible that a state grant was sent out to enforce crossing laws due to a high number of crossing incidents. It happens with speed traps and drunk driving enforcement zones.

So are we talking the "letter of the law" or the "intent of the law"?

Rolling stop at the stop sign...crossing over a yellow line....failure to signal...getting stopped at 3am in july with a couple new antique sleds in tow, and NOT having the registration for them yet...cause you just drove 700 miles to get them....and all because some local yokal...decides he needs to do a csi...when you are so tired you can hardly see straight...stuff like that!

 

[roundhouse]

So are we talking the "letter of the law" or the "intent of the law"?

Rolling stop at the stop sign...crossing over a yellow line....failure to signal...getting stopped at 3am in july with a couple new antique sleds in tow, and NOT having the registration for them yet...cause you just drove 700 miles to get them....and all because some local yokal...decides he needs to do a csi...when you are so tired you can hardly see straight...stuff like that!

I feel safer already knowing that you are out there pulling a trailer when you are "so tired you can hardly see straight".

 

[robocopf7]

Remember, the original post concerned someone getting a warning or citation for crossing arms not being all the way up before crossing the tracks. My advice was to check the law to see if it explicitly says that a person has to wait. Also, in the example of being tired at 3am, they gave several reasons for an officer to stop them. While being tired isn't exactly against the law, it is a factor in many crashes. Many studies have shown that tired driving is equivalent to having consumed alcohol. Also, 3am is pretty much "prime time" for those sneaking home after drinking.

I don't know how many people caught the History Channel show Deadliest Roads where Ice Road truckers drive in India. This was a great example of what would occur if it was a "free for all" on the roads. There was passing on blind curves, road rage all the time, etc. I, for one, am glad that on the roads that my wife and kids are on, that there is people looking out for safety and preventing chaos.

My point is, keep the heat on those that pass the laws, not those that have to enforce them. This is where we all have responsibility as voters. All of the laws that officers enforce are passed by your representatives. It kills me to hear about 1500 to 2000 page bills that are passed, and the legislators do not even take the time to read the darn thing.