I recently received this video about seatbelt safety. This is a great PSA. We should all work to ensure everyone is wearing their seatbelts. Please click the link to see the video.
Seatbelt Video
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Railroad Crossings
On May 12th the Woodland Police Department will be participating in a joint education and enforcement effort with the California Northern Railroad. California has 10,117 rail grade crossings and one of the highest grade crossing collision fatality rates in the US.
I have yet to see a collision between a vehicle and a train but I regularly see people violate the laws related to rail grade crossings. Some of the rail grade crossings in Woodland allow a vehicle to proceed safely beyond the tracks and stop at a marked limit line. The violation occurs when a second vehicle stops behind the lead vehicle. The second vehicle will usually be stopped on the railroad tracks or close enough to the railroad tracks to constitute a hazard if a train were to approach. If a train was to approach and the lead vehicle was prevented from moving the vehicle on the railroad tracks would also be unable to move.
The vehicle California Vehicle Code contains many laws that pertain to rail grade crossings but the main section used by law enforcement is California Vehicle Code Section 22451, which states in summary that (a) The driver of any vehicle or pedestrian approaching a railroad or rail transit grade crossing shall stop not less than 15 feet from the nearest rail and shall not proceed until he or she can do so safely, whenever the following conditions exist:
(1) A clearly visible electric or mechanical signal device or a flagman gives warning of the approach or passage of a train or car.
(2) An approaching train or car is plainly visible or is emitting an audible signal and, by reason of its speed or nearness, is an immediate hazard.
(b) No driver or pedestrian shall proceed through, around, or under any railroad or rail transit crossing gate while the gate is closed.
Woodland Municipal Code section 14-10-1 also states that no person shall drive any vehicle through, around or under any crossing gate or barrier at a railroad grade crossing while such gate or barrier is closed or is being opened or closed.
I recently was asked by a citizen for clarification on a “fix-it ticket”. A fix-it ticket is also known as a correctable violation. The violations are generally equipment violations such as an inoperative headlight or tail light. Correctable violations can also be issued for equipment that is placed on a vehicle or the vehicle is altered and no longer meets the requirements of the California Vehicle Code.
Window tint is the most common correctable violation I encounter. Vehicle Code Section 26708(a) makes it unlawful or a vehicle to be equipped with any applied material on the windows directly to the left or right of the driver or the windshield. The simple explanation is that a vehicle cannot have any tint applied to the front driver side window, front passenger side window, or windshield.
A violation also occurs when a vehicle has been lowered beyond a certain point. The California Vehicle Code requires that the center of a vehicle’s headlight must be a minimum of 22 inches from the ground.
The following Vehicle Code section applies to vehicles once they have been issued a notice of correction. Vehicle Code section 24004 states in summary that no person shall operate any vehicle after notice by a peace officer that the vehicle is in an unsafe condition or is not equipped as required by this code, except as may be necessary to return the vehicle to the residence or place of business of the owner or driver or to a garage, until the vehicle and its equipment have been made to conform with the requirements of the Vehicle Code.
I have yet to see a collision between a vehicle and a train but I regularly see people violate the laws related to rail grade crossings. Some of the rail grade crossings in Woodland allow a vehicle to proceed safely beyond the tracks and stop at a marked limit line. The violation occurs when a second vehicle stops behind the lead vehicle. The second vehicle will usually be stopped on the railroad tracks or close enough to the railroad tracks to constitute a hazard if a train were to approach. If a train was to approach and the lead vehicle was prevented from moving the vehicle on the railroad tracks would also be unable to move.
The vehicle California Vehicle Code contains many laws that pertain to rail grade crossings but the main section used by law enforcement is California Vehicle Code Section 22451, which states in summary that (a) The driver of any vehicle or pedestrian approaching a railroad or rail transit grade crossing shall stop not less than 15 feet from the nearest rail and shall not proceed until he or she can do so safely, whenever the following conditions exist:
(1) A clearly visible electric or mechanical signal device or a flagman gives warning of the approach or passage of a train or car.
(2) An approaching train or car is plainly visible or is emitting an audible signal and, by reason of its speed or nearness, is an immediate hazard.
(b) No driver or pedestrian shall proceed through, around, or under any railroad or rail transit crossing gate while the gate is closed.
Woodland Municipal Code section 14-10-1 also states that no person shall drive any vehicle through, around or under any crossing gate or barrier at a railroad grade crossing while such gate or barrier is closed or is being opened or closed.
I recently was asked by a citizen for clarification on a “fix-it ticket”. A fix-it ticket is also known as a correctable violation. The violations are generally equipment violations such as an inoperative headlight or tail light. Correctable violations can also be issued for equipment that is placed on a vehicle or the vehicle is altered and no longer meets the requirements of the California Vehicle Code.
Window tint is the most common correctable violation I encounter. Vehicle Code Section 26708(a) makes it unlawful or a vehicle to be equipped with any applied material on the windows directly to the left or right of the driver or the windshield. The simple explanation is that a vehicle cannot have any tint applied to the front driver side window, front passenger side window, or windshield.
A violation also occurs when a vehicle has been lowered beyond a certain point. The California Vehicle Code requires that the center of a vehicle’s headlight must be a minimum of 22 inches from the ground.
The following Vehicle Code section applies to vehicles once they have been issued a notice of correction. Vehicle Code section 24004 states in summary that no person shall operate any vehicle after notice by a peace officer that the vehicle is in an unsafe condition or is not equipped as required by this code, except as may be necessary to return the vehicle to the residence or place of business of the owner or driver or to a garage, until the vehicle and its equipment have been made to conform with the requirements of the Vehicle Code.
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