A special enforcement held Wednesday in St. Joseph put a special emphasis and led to tickets for drivers failing to stop a railroad crossings when signals were active.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol eight drivers were ticketed during the operation for failing to stop at a rail crossing when activated.

The “Trooper On A Train” enforcement was held from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Wednesday as a joint operation between the St. Joseph Police Department, Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad Police and the Missouri State Highway Patrol. One officer from each department rode the train while ground cars from each of those departments were stationed at rail crossings in the train’s path. The goal of the operation was to detect vehicles failing to stop at railroad crossings when the crossing signals were activated.

“Railroad crossings pose a significant danger when motorists choose not obey the signals at those crossings. Motorists need to remember when they see railroad tracks they need to think train,” said Captain James E. McDonald, commanding officer Troop H.