Ref.: thisisgloucestershire.co.uk
http://www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/ ... K=13052168
-----------------------------------------------------
CROSSING - SIX CAUGHT
10:30 - 22 August 2005
Police are prosecuting six people who have ignored the railway crossing in Alstone Lane, Cheltenham. It follows a high-profile crackdown on drivers who continue to cross even when the barriers are coming down.
Alleged offenders, who have been spotted by police or reported by members of the public have until today to respond to the letters.
They will have to write to officers to say who was in charge of the vehicle.
PC Alan Fishpool, of British Transport Police, said: "After the prosecutions it's really going to hit home.
"People need to realise that ignoring the barriers is not something they can do willy- nilly and it could cost someone their life.
"It's been very encouraging that other members of the public are reporting people's number plates.
"We've still had incidents of people running across the tracks and we need to stop this."
More than 40 incidents of barrier-jumping, vandalism of bridges and stations and objects placed on the tracks have been reported in Cheltenham during the past year.