Tempe Crackdown Near Light-Rail Tracks Planned; Motorists to be Cited for Risky Acts

Speaking of light rail, Tempe police plan a one-day crackdown on motorists who play games with light-rail trains. On Wednesday, July 29, cops will be swarming near light-rail crossings, busting drivers who fail to stop for red lights, make "hazardous u-turns in front of the trains," stop on...

By Ray Stern

July 23, 2009

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Speaking of light rail, Tempe police plan a one-day crackdown on motorists who play games with light-rail trains.

On Wednesday, July 29, cops will be swarming near light-rail crossings, busting drivers who fail to stop for red lights, make "hazardous u-turns in front of the trains," stop on the tracks or drive past flashing signals and crossing arms.

Recent collisions with trains were caused by drivers disregarding traffic signals, says a Tempe police news release. Local residents also have been calling police to complain about the risky actions of some drivers near trains.

Fines will range from $70 to $171.

A ticket might not be fun, but neither is ending up like Dirty Mary and Crazy Larry (screen shot above from videos.streefire.net.

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Ray Stern is the former news editor of Phoenix New Times. He worked as a newspaper reporter in Arizona for more than two decades. He's won numerous awards for his reporting, including the Arizona Press Club's Don Bolles Award for Investigative Journalism.