Del Mar City Council and residents did not reach a deal on Tuesday after the community gathered to express their frustration following an increase in recent citations of people walking across the railroad tracks.
The North County Transit District (NCTD) announced that there would be increased enforcement of surveillance and citations for anyone crossing the railroads tracks, especially between 4th and 11th streets in Del Mar. Over the past month, the NCTD has handed out 118 citations to people, compared to the 33 citations over the span of seven months.
“There is at least two to five deputy sheriffs there every single day, often in unmarked vehicles, often on four-wheel ATVs patrolling the cliffs to hand out tickets to surfers and seniors who are just doing what they've always done and that’s cross the tracks and go down to surf or walk on the bluffs. It’s ridiculous,” said resident Frank Stonebanks.
According to the NCTD, the enforcement is to bring awareness to the increase in accidents and fatalities that happen on the tracks.
"The Feds require us to mitigate any safety issues or hazards that occur on our railroad and trespassing and railroad strikes are the number one railroad related reason for fatalities," said Dahvia Lynch, with the NCTD.
But residents who have been cited with fines up to $500 call it unreasonable. They say that crossing the tracks in one of the few options to get down to the beach, bluff and coastal trails.
“It’s what we do here,” said resident Stephanie Tarkington. “You wake up and go surfing. And that’s where the surf is and you go across that track."
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During Tuesday night’s council meeting, citizens gathered to deliver a petition with 500 names in an effort to end the citations.
“There’s absolutely no reason why together with the City of Del Mar and with the NCTD we can’t work out a solution that allows people to do what they've been doing for a 100 years and that’s safely go down to the beach and the bluffs,” Stonebanks said.
But the group did not reach a deal with the city council. They say they plan to address the NCTD Board of Directors next week.
