The fall is such a pretty season with all the leaves on the trees changing colors. It's the perfect time to take those family photos and senior pics. But be careful where you choose to take those photos because there is a place that seems like the perfect location for photos the only problem is that it is illegal in both Arkansas and Texas.

This time of year I see families and high school seniors having photo shoots with professional photographers downtown by cool old buildings or in a historic neighborhood for a beautiful backdrop. These great locations make the photos amazing.

But there is one location you need to stay away from...railroad tracks. Yes, they may be cool and make a great backdrop for your photo, but you could get fined a lot of money for doing it.

That's right, it's illegal to get your picture taken on railroad tracks.

Taking Photos on a Train Tracks is Illegal

Do you know why it's illegal? Simply put, it is dangerous. Trains are pretty quiet on their approach and they move faster than you realize. You could easily be so busy trying to get the perfect shot that you might think there is plenty of time to get out of the way once the photo is taken. Think again. If the train operator sees you on the railroad track and tries to stop, trains don't stop very fast. It can take up to a mile or even more for it to come to a complete stop.

You Could be Fined up to $10,000 and do Jail Time

Did you know that railroad tracks are private property? If you don't have permission to be there you could be fined up to $10,000. Oh, maybe even jail time since you are trespassing on private property. That's a lot to pay for a cool family photo.

According to nuttyhicker.com:

(It's) illegal unless you have received written permission from the railroad company that owns that set of tracks, or if they are abandoned and ownership was handed back to the original owner of the land, then the owner of the land.

It's Illegal on Abandoned Rail Road Tracks Too

Abandoned railroads are still private property so there is the trespassing issue again. But there's another interesting and dangerous detail about abandoned railroad tracks, they can become active with no warning. Yikes!

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