DRIVERS and cyclists caught ignoring boom gates and illegally crossing train tracks will be hit with heftier fines.
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The maximum penalty for drivers and cyclists illegally crossing train tracks has more than doubled to $3033; for pedestrians it’s now $1517 from July 1.
Each year there are fatalities and near-misses at train tracks. On June 20 a Melbourne man, 19, was struck by a train and killed when lying across a track at a pedestrian crossing in Bendigo.
The State Government has doubled penalties for crossing train tracks where boom gates are down or where there is not a designated crossing point, in an effort to save lives and reduce trauma for train drivers.
The maximum court penalty for unauthorised crossing by drivers and cyclists goes from $1467 to $3033. The infringement for the same offence increases from $295 to $607. The maximum court penalty for unauthorised crossing by pedestrians goes from $738 to $1517. The infringement penalty rises from $148 to $379.
“Doubling the fines will make people think twice about dangerously sneaking across the tracks,” Minister for Public Transport Jacinta Allan said.