Kendall Co. Sheriff Plans Extra Rail Crossing Enforcement

OSWEGO, IL — The Kendall County Sheriff's Office will participate in Illinois Rail Safety Week, deploying officers to help enforce and educate on rail crossing laws and best practices. The extra details are planned for the rest of the week.

Starting on Sunday, sheriff's deputies will be making sure drivers and pedestrians are obeying rail crossing laws at various railroad crossings throughout the county, the department said in a news release.

With Illinois, and the Chicago area, being the crosshairs of America's rail system, the state has a problem with rail safety. In 2018, Illinois was 3rd in the nation in railroad collision deaths with 15 fatalities, according to Plainfield Police. The state was also fifth in the nation in railroad property trespasser deaths, with 22.

With that, Gov. JB Pritzker proclaimed the week of Sept. 22-28 as Illinois Rail Safety Week, with police agencies and rail companies and agencies across the state partnering on the effort.

The Kendall County Sheriff's Office said it is against the law not only to stop a car on railroad tracks, but also to stop a car anywhere within the highway-rail grade crossing. The crossing, if not marked on the street, extends from protective gate to protective gate.