On Tuesday, September 24, 2019, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office will be assisting with a nationwide effort called Operation Clear Track. Deputies will patrol near high-volume traffic railroad crossings writing warnings and citations to those behaving illegally on or near railroad tracks. Those found walking on railroads or failing to drive safely at crossing sites will be subject to enforcement action.
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.