CSX says no!

[Clay320]

Foamer: Rail cops are out to get me!

Person with real railroad experience: Why's that?

Foamer: The won't let me take pictures.

Person with real railroad experience: Did they have a reason?

Foamer: NO, I wasn't doing anything wrong!!!!! I just wanted to get a shot of that really cool foamer magnet thing and the cop said I was trespassing but it was only by a little and I had to anyway to get the one thingy in the shot with the really cool foamer magnet thing it not like I was breaking the law or anything!!! I tried to tell him what I thought of that and you know what he did?!?! He said I had to leave!!! Can you believe that? CAN YOU!?!!?

Person with real railroad experience: Well you said you were trespassing, and you started to argue with him I'm not surprised he said to leave.

Foamer But I wasn't trespassing that much I only trespassed a little like a hundred feet to get the shot of the really cool foamer magnet thing!!!!! He has no right to kick me out! Another time the same prick yelled and me and I was only like 2 feet on to railroad property. That RR cop has some nerve to kick me out of there!!!! It's not like I'm a terrorist or anything!!! It's like Railroads don't care about foamers or something!....

Person with real railroad experience:You've got a little something on you face there, no the other side, you got it... Anyway, he probably sees lots of people trespassing everyday, how does he know what your really up to? And hate to pop your bubble but most railroads don't give a hoot if you want to get your picture or not.

Foamer But, but, its our RIGHT to get our pictures!!!! They can't stop me that cop probably has no real training, just working for big brother to bring us down TO BRING US DOWN!!!!!! I know, I'll just lie and say I didn't know it was railroad property, then when he turns away I'll get my shot!!!!

Person with real railroad experience: Umm, I'll get a mop...


******The above is not directed at anyone and is meant to be taken in a light hearted way. Mods, if you don't like it, delete at will*********

[SD80MAC]

Clay, I thoroughly enjoyed reading that.

[Typhoon]

I agree, it was pretty funny.

[azimmer]

Everyone has missed the obvious solution.

If the railroads don't want tresspassers they should be required to surround their property with a six-foot steel cyclone fence. After all, it is stupid to leave large tracts of very dangerous property completely open to whoever happens to pass. Small sporadic signs are ineffective. Every square foot has to be fenced. Even public crossings have to gated and locked. This will allow no question as to where RR property begins and where it ends.

For the good of society, make 'em put up those fences!

[J T]

******The above is not directed at anyone and is meant to be taken in a light hearted way. Mods, if you don't like it, delete at will*********

Good stuff.

Everyone has missed the obvious solution.

Hey, I gave a solution earlier in this thread. Go to the country to shoot and no one will ever bother you.

[conrailman75]

Everyone has missed the obvious solution.

If the railroads don't want tresspassers they should be required to surround their property with a six-foot steel cyclone fence. After all, it is stupid to leave large tracts of very dangerous property completely open to whoever happens to pass. Small sporadic signs are ineffective. Every square foot has to be fenced. Even public crossings have to gated and locked. This will allow no question as to where RR property begins and where it ends.

For the good of society, make 'em put up those fences!

Now we're getting ridiculous

[Beal99]

And there are railfans who go as far back as to the engine house? Who the hell does that?

ummm...yeah.

[CR Cabanaw]

its all crap. I railfan at a bike crossing in between Pennsylvania and sibley in Riverview, MI (CN Shoreline Sub) and the cops tell us all the time its illegal to park there ( there arent ANY no parking signs & I'm not blocking a thing...) and taping the trains is taping gov't property so its illegal. Whatever... I hate it when cops drive around looking for someone to yell at in a good neighbor hood. Its no wonder no one likes them.

[azimmer]

Another story.

Railroad Worker 1: Hey look! Over there! There's a guy standing about 100 feet on our property. I think we should report him!

Railroad Worker 2: What for?

Railroad Worker 1: What for???!!! Are you kidding???!!! He may be about to perpetrate some insane terrorist attack.

Railroad Worker 2: There's nothing over here except scrub, ballast, and track. What's he gonna do? Rip up the rails like Superman?

Railroad Worker 1: You fool! He might have a bomb hidden in his underpants!

Railroad Worker 2: He can see us as well as we can see him. If he were intent on destruction he would have already fled the scene -- and it looks like he has a camera. I think he's taking pictures of the birds, or the frogs, or maybe even the trains.

Railroad Worker 1: You idiot! Don't you remember the training movie? Terrorists disguise bombs as cameras!

Railroad Worker 2: Relax. People tresspass all the time. It's very convenient for them. Kids take shortcuts to school. Mothers take shortcuts to the supermarket. They all come onto our sacred property and then they leave. You can't really stop it. No harm is ever done. Just leave it alone and forget about it.

Railroad Worker 1: You're nuts. I'm gonna report you. I'm gonna save my job. We are being overrun by terrorists. They're planning to destroy us all. Our entire democratic, capitalist way of life is in mortal danger. I'll be the hero. You'll be in jail. My picture will be in the newspapers. You'll see. You'll see ...

[Mr. Tops]

Another story.

Railroad Worker 1: Hey look! Over there! There's a guy standing about 100 feet on our property. I think we should report him!

Railroad Worker 2: What for?

Railroad Worker 1: What for???!!! Are you kidding???!!! He may be about to perpetrate some insane terrorist attack.

Railroad Worker 2: There's nothing over here except scrub, ballast, and track. What's he gonna do? Rip up the rails like Superman?

Railroad Worker 1: You fool! He might have a bomb hidden in his underpants!

Railroad Worker 2: He can see us as well as we can see him. If he were intent on destruction he would have already fled the scene -- and it looks like he has a camera. I think he's taking pictures of the birds, or the frogs, or maybe even the trains.

Railroad Worker 1: You idiot! Don't you remember the training movie? Terrorists disguise bombs as cameras!

Railroad Worker 2: Relax. People tresspass all the time. It's very convenient for them. Kids take shortcuts to school. Mothers take shortcuts to the supermarket. They all come onto our sacred property and then they leave. You can't really stop it. No harm is ever done. Just leave it alone and forget about it.

Railroad Worker 1: You're nuts. I'm gonna report you. I'm gonna save my job. We are being overrun by terrorists. They're planning to destroy us all. Our entire democratic, capitalist way of life is in mortal danger. I'll be the hero. You'll be in jail. My picture will be in the newspapers. You'll see. You'll see ...

No harm is ever done when someone tresspasses? OK, most of the time, probably not...but what about the times when the kid runs in front of the train to get to school and gets hit. Or when mommy is in a hurry to get the kids to an appointment and runs the gates. Or when little Johnny is using the tracks as a shortcut to Tommy's house and has his headphones in as we come around a corner? All of these scenarios can and HAVE happened before. And THEN what heappens?? The victim or victim's families SUE THE RAILROAD.

I don't have a problem with railfans that are "technically tresspassing" as long as they are a safe distance away and not completely somewhere where they are not supposed to be. We just had to turn a tresspasser in last night as he was walking down the track with his back to us as we were barrelling down on him. Seconds before we would have hit him, he moved to the adjacent track. Dispatcher warned other trains about him, and the tresspasser threw a bottle at the next train through.

Are we letting the terrorists get the best of us? Maybe...but that doesn't make it ok to tresspass.

[UncleRaul]

A rail cop pulled a gun on a kid and made him delete his pictures? Why do I feel like there's more to this story? If this actually happened/happens to someone, burn his/her badge number and company affiliation into your memory and report them to the nearest state police post. The state police appoint rail cops in Mich., and ALL police officers need a valid reason for drawing their service arm. If there wasn't one (did your hands shoot to your pockets?) then s/he is guilty of a major breach of police conduct.

[hobojim]

A rail cop pulled a gun on a kid and made him delete his pictures? Why do I feel like there's more to this story? If this actually happened/happens to someone, burn his/her badge number and company affiliation into your memory and report them to the nearest state police post. The state police appoint rail cops in Mich., and ALL police officers need a valid reason for drawing their service arm. If there wasn't one (did your hands shoot to your pockets?) then s/he is guilty of a major breach of police conduct.

UncleRaul, Are you saying the State Police have superintending control of all rail cops? By virtue of their power to appoint rail cops they would have the power to un appoint them, hence the rail cops are under the jurisdiction of the state police. Is that correct?

If what you say is correct , then I guess my concerns or pretty much abated.

[Clay320]

azimmer, your missing the point. The mere fact that RR property is PRIVATE PROPERTY should be plenty of reason to stay off it. If you can't comprehend that I give up.

[PAT.C]

CSX cops in Detroit do have a supervisor, it would be Supt Harris. Call him if you have an issue, no have no idea what he will say. Call the ACLU or the local media like you said you would last year. If there is a real issue, and I have my doubts, they will get into it. Or just sit and do nothing but complain on an internet board and watch nothing change!!
HEY TYPHOON - I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR 6 MNS. FOR SOME ACTION...

Re: Delray Tower Shutdown / To Be Torn Down

Postby PAT.C on Tue Mar 15, 2011 8:57 pm
Csx Transport Railroad Police
Superintendant John Harris
12780 Levan
Livonia, MI 48150
(800) 232-0144
Fax: (734) 464-4916
HOBORICH - HAVE YOU CONTACTED THE SUPERINTENDANT YET ?
CALL THE 800#, PRESS #1 AND ASK TO BE CONNECTED TO THE LIVONIA 0FFICE.

SAYING THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER AND OVER AND OVER AND ON AND ON AND ON DOES NOT ACCOMPLISH ANYTHING. YOU ARE PREACHING TO THE CHOIR .

AFTER THE CONTACT, PLEASE GIVE US A REPORT.

Re: Delray Tower Shutdown / To Be Torn Down

Postby hoborich on Tue Mar 15, 2011 9:45 pm
I need to talk to a couple other people who have been hassled first, to make sure I have everything straight. When I go there, I want to have all the facts, times, dates, etc, correct.
People sitting in their cars on a public street, or taking pictures should not be subject to harrassment, intimidation, or threats of arrest, or rascist comments like "Whats a white boy doing in this neighborhood".
When I get all the facts assembled, I will also be contacting the media and the Civil Liberties Union. We have a right to watch trains at Delray without harrassment.

hoborich
Railroadfan...fan

WE ARE STILL WAITING.



Top

[UncleRaul]

UncleRaul, Are you saying the State Police have superintending control of all rail cops? By virtue of their power to appoint rail cops they would have the power to un appoint them, hence the rail cops are under the jurisdiction of the state police. Is that correct?

If what you say is correct , then I guess my concerns or pretty much abated.

I gotta admit hobojim, I'm not sure. Check this out, though:

462.367 Railroad police officer; appointment; commission; eligibility; duration of commission; employment before certain date. Sec. 367.
(1) Upon application in writing of a company owning, leasing, using, or operating any railroad company in this state, whether by steam, electricity, or other motive power, accompanied by the statements of 3 reputable United States citizens testifying to the moral character of the person mentioned in the application, the director of the department of state police, if the director finds the person to be suitable and qualified, may appoint and commission the person to act as a police officer for the company, upon the premises of the company, or elsewhere within the state, when in the discharge of his or her duties as a police officer for the company.

Being appointed by the head of state police, it would go to follow that if a rail cop does something illegal (like pull a gun on an unarmed civilian to coerce them to delete pictures -- at least that's how I'm interpreting this story) they would have to answer to the State Police. Again, not sure. I'm still looking through the MCL, but can't find anything about who they answer to. The Railroad Commission? The company they work for? Any help would be appreciated.

[PAT.C]

I JUST HAD A PLEASANT PHONE CONVERSATION WITH A SUPERINTENDENT OF THE GREAT LAKES REGION [CSX POLICE].
ONE VERY IMPORTANT POINT WAS MADE THAT WE ALL SHOULD PAY ATTENTION TO...

---CSX DOES NOT TOLERATE TRESPASSING !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

IF YOU ARE ON RR PROPERTY- YOU ARE TRESPASSING AND WILL BE DEALT WITH ACCORDINGLY.

AS TO TAKING PICS - TAKE ALL YOU WANT FROM PUBLIC PROPERTY - NOT FROM RR PROPERTY.

end of conversation about the conversation.
NOW TO MY OPINIONS...
IF YOU ARE NICE TO THE COP, THE COP MAY BE NICE TO YOU.
IF NOT, YOU MAY GET WHAT YOU DESERVE--GOOD LUCK STUPID.

THE WORLD CHANGED AFTER 9/11 ...LEARN TO DEAL WITH IT.

not all public property is public - ex / stand in a public roadway taking pics and any cop can / will tell you to move.
look up -loitering laws- on your little palm thingee as you are standing on a public sidewalk .
you could be ordered to move on even though it is a public sidewalk.
if the sidewalk is very close to rr property, don't be surprised to see the cop.

THIS BOARD IS KNOWN TO SEVERAL POLICE DEPTS. AND THEY READ WHAT YOU POST HERE.

[Norm]

If I understand the law correctly, the railroad cops do have the same powers granted all police officers when they are protecting railroad assets from the bad guys. That includes pursuit of them off railroad property if they have reason to do so. OTOH, they would be foolish to stop someone for a speeding infraction on a public highway unless they were obviously DUIL. They would then hold the person for local LEO's. Their mission is to protect railroad property, so they are not likely to hassle you while you're driving on a public road.

My deputy friends are well trained, and their gun never leaves it's holster unless a severe threat is perceived or they are dealing with a known felon.

I have a CPL, and by law I'm required to tell a cop I'm carrying. Most encounters with LEO's are cordial but I follow the law. If a 'cinder dick' were to pull his gun on me after I informed him I was carrying I would contact the state police to report that. Yes, we have rules to follow, but it seems some railroad cops just don't understand them.

If I'm photographing from public property they can expect to see me in court and prove beyond a reasonable doubt that I was trespassing. They could also be charged with 'assault with a deadly weapon' if they draw their gun against an unarmed citizen who presents no threat.

I was told by one CN cop that there were only nine of them in Michigan so I understand why they can be a bit touchy.

[Beal99]

No offense Pat, but:

THE WORLD CHANGED AFTER 9/11 ...LEARN TO DEAL WITH IT.

is the dumbest thing I've seen in a long time on this board. So because of 9/11, we're just supposed to let high school diploma carrying RR fuzz do what they like?

Look, if you're obviously trespassing, fine, deal with the consequences of it. If I'm sitting on a public street or sidewalk taking pics, then buzz off fuzz, I am in my LEGAL RIGHTS AS A CITIZEN OF THE USA.

Two years ago, my buddy Nick and I were shooting the local switching BP in Hammond, IN. We were standing on the public sidewalk. Two BP cops show up and read us the riot act about "you can't take pictures, blah blah 9/11 blah blah". I basically said politely that what we're doing is legal, we're not shooting your refinery which if I wanted an overview of, I could just go on Google Maps and see an entire satellite shot of the plant.

Well Joe Q. Cop gets all high and mighty and threatens to confiscate our stuff, oh HELL no. I told him if he touches me or my camera, I'll see him in court, he then tells me he's calling the police, to which I say go ahead. He bumblefarks off to his car after threatening to also call the FBI and 5 minutes later a Hammond cop shows up. Hammond cop asks us what we're doing, etc, we explain the situation. He looks at the BP cops pretty exasperated and is like "you know they are totally in their rights here", I've never seen a rent-a-fuzz spit and choke harder, dude was beet red. Cop just nodded at us, said have a nice day, don't trespass.

If I go down to Judd Street when I'm home and some jerk tells me to move, I will laugh. F the 9/11 talk bs, I'm not giving up any of my rights as an American because some cop wants to act above his badge.

[PAT.C]

THE WORLD CHANGED AFTER 9/11 ...LEARN TO DEAL WITH IT.
is the dumbest thing I've seen in a long time on this board

THE WORLD DIDN'T CHANGE.???

No offense Pat, but: / NO OFFENSE TAKEN. I CONSIDER THE SOURCE.


If I go down to Judd Street when I'm home and some jerk tells me to move, I will laugh. F the 9/11 talk bs, I'm not giving up any of my rights as an American because some cop wants to act above his badge

BE SURE TO POST THE DATE AND TIME IN ADVANCE.

[hoborich]

NOW TO MY OPINIONS...
IF YOU ARE NICE TO THE COP, THE COP MAY BE NICE TO YOU

This is also stupid beyond belief, from an avid cop supporter. It appears "MAY" is the operative word here. Like the cop "MAY" respect your civil rights and the constitution........or "MAY" not! And I for one am sick and tired of the "Since 9/11" song and dance routine!