BNSF Issues?

[merkaba93]

Anyone ever have issues with BNSF giving you a hard time getting to your blind on the Columbia?
Doesn't seem like too many of the Kite or Wind surfers have problems or either just don't care what BNSF says. Wonder why it would be different for duck hunters.
I know that Wisconsin had this issue back in 2015-2016.
http://lacrossetribune.com/news/local/strict-enforcement-of-trespass-law-by-bnsf-could-put-wisconsin/article_4c799ab9-34ad-5ef2-b65f-4901142e4fc5.html

[Firedogg]

Seems pretty clear cut. Don't trespass. Do you cross a guy's fence and field to get to your hunting spot without permission?

Seems there were reports up north crossing the tracks accessing the river for steelhead where they were citing folks.

[Duckslayer89]

See tons of duck hunters on the Columbia. There's places to park and cross

[merkaba93]

Seems pretty clear cut. Don't trespass. Do you cross a guy's fence and field to get to your hunting spot without permission?

Seems there were reports up north crossing the tracks accessing the river for steelhead where they were citing folks.

Missing the point entirely bra.

[predatorpro]

Seems pretty clear cut. Don't trespass. Do you cross a guy's fence and field to get to your hunting spot without permission?

Seems there were reports up north crossing the tracks accessing the river for steelhead where they were citing folks.

Lol ya the tracks will run along that river for 30 plus miles on both sides of the river half the time....doesnt leave many options...i could think of maybe 1 or 2 areas to legally cross in hundreds of miles of river...

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

See the wind surfers breaking the No Trespass rule all the time. I don't think they care.

[Oh Mah]

why is it an issue to cross the tracks in a rural area but no issue at all crossing in town or at a R.R crossing?just asking really want to know some reasoning if there is any.if its just because the owner says so no problem there either

[hdshot]

why is it an issue to cross the tracks in a rural area but no issue at all crossing in town or at a R.R crossing?just asking really want to know some reasoning if there is any.if its just because the owner says so no problem there either

IMO it has everything to do with liability.  If hit then the rr can blame the victim that got hit crossing in an area not for public crossing.  Basically if you do not use a public crossing then that could be trespassing whether in town or not and trains have the right of way. RR tracks are tricky because some are very busy while others might be abandoned.  The tracks you see in town might be very different from the ones on the river.     

[Oh Mah]

you are most likely right.I think not sure some laws changed concerning this on the crossings in favor of the railway.

[EWUeagles]

I thought this was something they started enforcing heavily 4 or 5 years ago. I heard they ticketed a lot of people (fisherman, hunters, wind surfers or anyone even walking across the railroad). I think since then the enforcement has dwindled since I have seen quite a few people still crossing the tracks. Unfortunately it's their property and if they want to enforce it they can.

[KFhunter]

They should just make a no prom dress rule

[bigtex]

Railroad police officers in WA do make trespass cases. I've known them to cite fishermen walking across railroad trestle bridges. I don't know about on the columbia. They are state authority officers so a trespass case from them goes to the same court as a deputy or WDFW Officer.

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[HUNTINCOUPLE]

Seems down here the blind eye is turned........ Which is fine by me.

[NW SURVEYOR]

Surveying within the RR R/W is a tricky proposition.
It can take weeks and hundreds of dollars to get a permit and then pay the RR for a guy to monitor our activities to make sure we don't get run over.
Sometimes it is better to ask for forgiveness rather than ask for permission.
I honestly respect the concept of RR safety/liability, but sometimes things get carried to an extreme. 

[Duckwacker]

Railroad police officers in WA do make trespass cases. I've known them to cite fishermen walking across railroad trestle bridges. I don't know about on the columbia. They are state authority officers so a trespass case from them goes to the same court as a deputy or WDFW Officer.

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They are over glorified security guards. They have no police power.

[Skyvalhunter]

Just remember you are on Private property when on the tracks and the right of way. They will and have prosecuted so tread lightly.

[Firedogg]

Railroad police officers in WA do make trespass cases. I've known them to cite fishermen walking across railroad trestle bridges. I don't know about on the columbia. They are state authority officers so a trespass case from them goes to the same court as a deputy or WDFW Officer.

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They are over glorified security guards. They have no police power.

Actually private security on private property can do some things police can't do.

[Duckslayer89]

Railroad police officers in WA do make trespass cases. I've known them to cite fishermen walking across railroad trestle bridges. I don't know about on the columbia. They are state authority officers so a trespass case from them goes to the same court as a deputy or WDFW Officer.

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Actually private security on private property can do some things police can't do.
They are over glorified security guards. They have no police power.

Idk BNSF police have just as much power. I know they write tickets

[bigtex]

Railroad police officers in WA do make trespass cases. I've known them to cite fishermen walking across railroad trestle bridges. I don't know about on the columbia. They are state authority officers so a trespass case from them goes to the same court as a deputy or WDFW Officer.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

They are over glorified security guards. They have no police power.

Not true. They have full authority police officer powers in most states, including Washington.

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[Badhabit]

On the WA side of the river I think it's BNSF on the OR side of the river I think it's UP. They both have the easements for their tracks and can cite for trespassing. I for one don't want to have to hire an atty to argue before a judge that I in my opinion crossing the rr tracks has been going on for many years and now I'm claiming a prescriptive easement across the tracks. My pockets are not that deep.