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Sunday, March 01, 2009

Senate Approves Police for Train

By Jeff Jones
Journal Politics Writer
          SANTA FE — The Rail Runner Express commuter train service would get a police force of its own under a bill approved Saturday by the state Senate.
        The measure from Sen. Linda Lopez, D-Albuquerque, would authorize the Rail Runner transit districts to hire law officers who would patrol rail-line stations, parking areas and at least some of the commuter trains that roll six days a week between Belen and Santa Fe.
        The certified, armed train officers would wear distinctive badges and uniforms and "have the powers of peace officers on all property, tracks, rights of way, easements, vehicles, buses, vans, railcars, locomotives and facilities owned, leased, licensed, maintained or operated by the district," according to the bill, SB 245, approved with a 28-11 vote.
        Lopez told fellow senators there have been several criminal incidents involving the popular rail line, including an attack on a conductor, the theft of more than $100,000 worth of copper wire and trespassing on Rail Runner property by motorcycles and ATVs.
        The initial plan is to hire three to five officers paid by existing Rail Runner operating funds, Lopez said.
        But Sen. Rod Adair, R-Roswell, and other Republicans warned the size and cost of the force would burgeon dramatically.
        "It's not about three people to five people," Adair said. "It's about another 50 to 70 — minimum."
        Adair attempted to amend Lopez's bill to limit the train force to no more than five officers but withdrew his plan after Sen. Cisco McSorley, D-Albuquerque, said such a move would prevent the Rail Runner from reacting quickly to changes in ridership.
        The vote sends the Rail Runner police bill to the House, where an identical measure is already pending.
        In other legislative action Saturday:
        • The Senate, with a 37-3 vote, approved a bill from Sen. Peter Wirth, D-Santa Fe, that would require elected officials to file additional public reports of their campaign contributions and expenses during election and non-election years.
        "This is going to go a long way into shining a little bit more light on our activities as elected officials," said Sen. Dede Feldman, D-Albuquerque, a longtime advocate of state ethics and campaign reform. The bill, SB 128, now goes to the House for consideration.
        • The Senate, with a 39-0 vote, also approved a revamp of the state's off-highway-vehicle regulations. That measure, a substitute for SB 379, also now goes to the House.
        • The House passed and sent to the Senate a lease-purchase deal that calls for taxpayers to build a $1.4 million rehearsal hall for the Santa Fe Opera.
       

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