Railroad to conduct safety campaign

Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad will conduct its "Officer on a Train" safety campaign today in Dodge City to educate people about avoiding train-car collisions.
    From 11 a.m. until 1 p.m., officers with the Dodge City Police Department, the Ford County Sheriff's Office and the Kansas Highway Patrol will ride the train as it passes back and forth through Dodge City. Their mission: Watch for people who try to get around the railroad crossing gates or stop on the tracks while waiting for the stoplight to change.
    Drivers who commit either of those violations or other traffic offenses will be ticketed.
    Last year's campaign generated five arrests and 41 tickets — 16 for driving around the crossing gates, nine for stopping on the tracks, one for walking under the crossing gates in front of the train and 15 for other traffic offenses.