The police in yellow vest are easily recognizable

An agreement between the cantonal police of Geneva and the transport police was signed on Tuesday. It will notably strengthen the system on the Caravan Vaux route.

With their neon yellow vests, transport police officers (TPO) are easily recognizable. Deployed in railway stations, trains and, for five years, in public transport in Geneva, they will see their missions be reinforced from 1 July. A convention linking the TPO and the cantonal police of Geneva was indeed signed Tuesday on a platform of the station Caravan. What better to prepare including the opening of the future rail link.

Reinforced missions

In French-speaking Switzerland, such an agreement already exists with the cantons of Vaud and Neuchâtel. "But signing an agreement with Geneva was very important for us," said Colonel Jug Monarch, commander of the transport police. Specifically, his men (about fifty in the Lake Geneva region) will be able to handle the cases of violation of the rules of the traffic, violation of the Law on the weapons or detention and consumption of narcotics without needing to appeal to the Geneva police officers. Recall that these agents, holders of the federal police license, are armed, unlike municipal police officers in reflective vest.

The example of the final of the Cup

"Our collaboration on the ground with the transport police is not new, but the convention adds an institutional framework, says Monica Bouffant, head of the Geneva police. The benefits came at the recent final of the Swiss Football Cup. The transport police were present with us at the command post and their field agents provided us with essential information about what was happening inside and outside the trains. "

"Better working together"

"For once, we anticipate! With the opening in 2019 of the CEVA, the number and importance of the stations will increase. And we know, to have seen for example with the arrival of the tram Merino, a new line can also be a crime accelerator. It is therefore better to work together." The magistrate also said that discussions are ongoing with French neighbors concerning the interventions of various security actors and safety equipments - which also include customs and border guards - in the perimeter of the CEVA.

Too many cyclists circumnavigate their safety

In winter, it is not only cold, but dark. At the time of going to work or college, the sun is not always up and at night, at the time of debauchery, it is sometimes already lying down. This early December was therefore the ideal time to carry out the operations that took place Thursday and yesterday before the colleges.

The police station had put the package by hiring a dozen officials under the command of Major Luray, head of the public order and road safety unit, as well as officials of the municipal police of these three communes.

And the result is edifying: on the two days of this operation of road safety very targeted, since concentrated on bicycles, 60% of the 62 cycles controlled, were not in conformity. The drivers of these two-wheelers have all received convocation for a subsequent presentation of their bikes after compliance. All except one, who won the pompom, since it was verbalized for crossing red lights in the red phase, on a non-compliant cycle, with a phone held in hand. "The total ..." sighs Major Luray frowning.

"I am surprised by the lack of information from these two-wheelers. So we gave them an explanatory leaflet to drive safely, but also yellow vests for the purpose of being seen by other road users. These control operations will be renewed periodically ", warns the police still reassured by the" very good reception reserved for the agents by the schoolboys who understood that our operation was made for their security ". As for the heads of institutions, they applauded with both hands this intervention beneficial for all and could see that in the corridors, the students spoke only about that...

Mandatory equipment

Reflectors (retro reflective devices): red in the back, white in the front, orange on the sides and on the pedals. Wearing a certified retro-reflective vest is mandatory for all cyclists (and passengers) traveling outside the city, at night, or when visibility is insufficient, especially in the event of fog like the one that envelops Agent in recent days. The Code la route applies to cyclists and other users. Each offense is punishable by a fine.