GREENSBORO, N.C. – A North Carolina city is using education, rather than enforcement, to lead the way in railroad trespassing and safety awareness. 

What You Need To Know

  • The Greensboro Police Department is using education, rather than enforcement, to lead the way in railroad trespassing and safety education

  • Officers with the department’s ATV railroad trespass initiative conduct patrols, share educational materials with passersby and explain how to safely interact with train tracks when they see someone trespassing

  • Officers and Greensboro City Council members said many people don’t realize that the only safe, legal place to get across the tracks is an authorized pathway or crossing

The Greensboro Police Department’s ATV railroad trespass initiative focuses on a three-mile stretch of track downtown.

N.C. State named that area as one of the top railway trespassing zones in the state. As part of the initiative, GPD officers like Cpl. Deon Carter conduct patrols, stand near crossings with their ATVs, share educational materials with passersby and explain how to safely interact with the tracks when they see someone trespassing. 

“It’s different when we put something in their hands, and they can say, ‘Wow, that officer really cares.’ We’re not doing any enforcement action, and it makes that interaction with them a lot more appreciative,” Carter said. 

The only safe, legal place to get across the tracks is an authorized pathway or crossing – anything else is trespassing. Instead of giving a ticket, Carter said officers explain trespassing and safety, ask for identification and provide that information to Norfolk Southern. 

The N.C. Department of Transportation said 40% of all railway incidents in Guilford County happened in the three-mile stretch of track when GPD’s focused railway patrols started in 2016. In 2021, NCDOT said there were no incidents in the patrol focus area.

“Just to see the reduction in foot traffic is great and … we’re happy that we played a major role in that,” Carter said. 

Greensboro City Council at-large member Marikay Abuzuaiter said those results show that education is a key component of keeping people safe and reducing railroad tresspassing incidents. 

“I will tell you when I go out with the ATV team, and we ask people, I would say 90% to 95% of the people do not realize that they cannot cross except where the arms are, or where the actual crossing is,” Abuzuaiter said. "It’s been an educational program. It’s been what I believe to be a very successful program.” 

According to a release from the The Federal Railroad Administration, almost $2 million in grants will be given out in 2022 to support trespassing education programs across the country. Carter said the $120,000 Greensboro is expected to receive will help with equipment needs, educational materials and additional patrols.