Operation Clear Track 2019 Invitation
Posted: September 5, 2019
This is your official invitation to participate in the third annual “Operation Clear Track” railroad safety detail on Tuesday, September 24th to mark Rail Safety Week 2019 from Sept. 22-28 across the U.S. and Canada.
As in previous years, if you can devote three hours to railroad safety on this day, or the rain date, Wednesday, September 25th, we would be honored to have you as a member of our national railroad safety law enforcement team.
As background, “Operation Clear Track” is a safety initiative hosted by Amtrak Police and Operation Lifesaver Inc. to bring police and sheriff’s departments together to enforce state grade crossing and trespassing laws on America’s railroad tracks. Operation Lifesaver is a non-profit organization dedicated to the reduction of railroad-related deaths and injuries across the U.S. and Canada.
Since its inception, this exercise targeting high incident railroad grade crossings, has resulted in thousands of citations and warnings issued to motorists and pedestrians violating these laws. The campaign remains the single largest railroad safety law enforcement activity ever assembled in the United States and starting this year in Canada. Last year nearly 530 Police, Sheriff’s, and other agencies participated across 48 states.
If you’re able to take part in this year’s campaign, you will be asked to report to any two railroad grade crossings in your community to enforce your grade crossing and trespassing laws and distribute railroad safety tip cards that will be shipped to your department at no cost to you (see attached). Those who do not comply with the law should be issued verbal or written warnings, or citations when appropriate. The three-hour enforcement period can occur during any shift and any time throughout a single day. At the end of the detail, your department will receive a link to report your enforcement results (number of warnings, citations and cards distributed) so we can establish statistical data for the operation nationwide.
Here is a letter from Amtrak Police Chief Neil Trugman with additional information about the event and the following link, https://operationlifesaver.wufoo.com/forms/operation-clear-track-2019-signup-form/ to register for the operation and obtain your free rail safety tip cards. This year, the cards will be shipped immediately upon registration to avoid delays.
We look forward to working with you to help keep your communities safe. Please contact Barbara Petito at [email protected] or (202) 906-3337 if you have any questions or concerns. |
