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WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. (AP) — National railroad regulators are asking local police departments to issue more tickets to drivers who ignore warnings at crossings.
The Federal Railroad Administration says it's the first step in a safety campaign. The campaign was spurred by accidents last month in Valhalla, New York, and Oxnard, California, that killed seven people. The engineer in the California crash died Tuesday.
The agency is calling for greater police presence at grade crossings and more citations for violations. It is not providing any new funding.
FRA spokesman Kevin Thompson said Tuesday that the agency has enlisted the cooperation of the Fraternal Order of Police, the National Sheriffs Association and the International Association of Chiefs of Police.
Thompson said his agency will provide materials the groups can pass on to their members.
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