J. D. Vance Has Weakened His Rail Safety Bill at Lobbyists’ Request
Republican senator J. D. Vance quietly amended his rail safety bill ... just as rail and chemical lobbies asked.
The Railway Safety Act would require the adoption of safer tank cars that carry hazardous materials by 2025, instead of 2029
* [Wikipedia] J.D. Vance: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._D._Vance
#RailSafety #lobbyists #PoliticalCorruption #JDVance #neoliberalism #RailTransport
* Aside: in the instance of railway disasters (tanker car explosions) railways are protected in part by archaic laws stemming from historical westward migrations. Citizens seeking justice are often bounced among regional/national police and regulators, and railroad police - no one accepting jurisdictional authority.
* [Wikipedia]
** Railroad police: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Railroad_police
** Via Rail Police Service: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Via_Rail_Police_Service
** Canadian Pacific Police Service: Canadian Pacific Police Service
* (2022-09-21) Why major Canadian railways must no longer be permitted to police themselves
https://theconversation.com/why-major-canadian-railways-must-no-longer-be-permitted-to-police-themselves-190417
Major railways in Canada, alone among private sector corporations, have their own police forces with full investigative & jurisdictional powers over accidents on, or near, their property.
These unique powers — a historic anomaly dating back to the 19th century when railways were being built across North America — have, until recently, escaped public scrutiny.
Addendae
More on tyranny of rail police, who operate in a legal grey area
People left scrambling after Brandon encampment dismantled
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/brandon-encampment-unhoused-removal-1.6922352
* "My tent was wrecked ... One of my laptops ... A bunch of other stuff was missing, wrecked."
* Salmon, living on the streets for 6 years - most recently at a campsite w. 4 others near railway tracks hidden behind a hill in the trees
* dismantled by the Canadian Pacific rail police
Victoria Stuart 🇨🇦 🏳️⚧️
