WSH wrote:If there were a legit emergency (person/car on tracks) would it be acceptable to contact a train crew via radio?
Ohoh, battle of the Joyce's comin' up ! I have to disagree with you there Jaime. This question is not a legal one. It is a moral one. In any life threatening situation, particularly if there is an almost certain way to avoid a death or injury and the action required does not in any way expose the "rescuer" to death or injury, it is a moral necessity to act. If WSH knows that his radio frequency would reach a locomotive which was about to strike a car or person (and not obviously in emergency), there would be no decision to be made. A situation like that requires action without regard for consequences-especially legal. I don't know this jurisdiction and I am not a lawyer, but there might even be a case, be it civil or criminal, where such a
non-action might expose the individual to liability or criminal prosecution. (Interesting question - any lawyers want to chime in ?) Personally, my amateur armchair lawyer suspicion is that there would be no penalty, only praise, if it went down as hoped for. I can speak with authority that as depicted, I'd be amazed if local law enforcement made it an issue. If, on the other hand, the train was fifteen minutes away and the reporter was radioing a tower 1/2 mile away...different story.
Use your cellphone. Don't take this personally WSH, but to be honest, the question does scare me a little bit as it suggests that perhaps such a scenario is anticipated with bated breath, sort of the fire buff who can't wait to pull the fire box alarm. If it ain't a clear cut case of life or death, you're going to be in serious gimsheen.