The two-week-long Operation Crossing Guard drew to a close on June 17, and the Broward Sheriff’s Office announced that more than 500 tickets were given out.
The program was meant to target motorists and pedestrians illegally going around the crossing gate arms, sitting on the tracks, or clocking the intersection.
The operation is in response to a rash of fatalities at railroad crossings in Broward County, leading to a partnership among BSO, Florida Highway Patrol, local police departments, and the Brightline train company. They used overt and covert officers and handed out tickets ranging from $115 to $205.
The breakdown of tickets is as follows:
- 157 tickets for stopping on the railroad tracks
- 146 for driving through or around closed crossing gate arms
- 122 for entering a grade crossing without sufficient space to clear
- 90 for blocking an intersection or crosswalk
- 25 for walking around closed crossing gate arms
“Until we see a reduction in the incidents at the crossing gates, this operation and the enforcement is only going to continue,” said BSO Col. Steve Robson, the executive director of the Department and Preparedness and Response.
The agencies announced Operation Crossing Guard during a June 3 press conference at the Fort Lauderdale Brightline station. Unfortunately, four days later, an 84-year-old woman was killed in a collision with Brightline in Oakland Park.
While the operation has ceased, BSO says they will still have “proactive enforcement” at railways to continue cracking down on dangerous driving.
