New law bans NJ Transit engineers with DUI's from operating trains

Railroad engineers who've lost their driver's license for driving under the influence will be banned from operating NJ Transit commuter trains under a bill signed into law by Gov. Chris Christie on Wednesday.

The bill was proposed in May after ABC-TV news reports of an NJ Transit locomotive engineer who was still operating trains while his driver's license was suspended for 10 years following DUI convictions.

That engineer is no longer operating trains and NJ Transit is currently checking the licenses of locomotive engineers, said Jennifer M. Nelson, a spokeswoman.

The law closes a loophole in federal railroad regulations that does not require train operators to have a motor vehicle license. It takes effect immediately. Engineers would be able to resume operating trains once their driver's license was restored.

Read more: http://www.nj.com/traffic/index.ssf/2016/08/new_law_bans_nj_transit_engineers_with_duis_from_o.html