Rules and penalties have gotten tough now on stop signal violations.
On this territory as soon as a stop signal has been run thru it is made aware of by the dispatchers computer.
The crew must call it out by radio (for all trains in close proximity to hear ) then immediately key up the dispatcher to notify them.
All trains that could be effected are then notified by the dispatcher to stop their movements until further instructions.
The tapes in the dispatch office are pulled and read both on the audio and on the dispatch control computers.
Officials are sent out to pull the event recorders on the locomotives and the crew members are taken for a mandatory drug test.
You are then removed from service until the time the company has reviewed all the information notified the union of your removal from service and and undetermined (not sure how they decide this) amount of time until an official hearing or "investigation" takes place with you,your union representation and company try to determine what happened and who all is in violation .
If you are found guilty the FRA will be notified to report to your FRA license the violation.
Now in the past I've seen people off as little as 30-45 days.Anymore on the NS the time off is anywhere from 6-9 months,without pay.Now most people on the railroad in transportation take out job protection insurance for such incidents.If your not guilty of rule G,or guilty of using drugs or alcohol,most insurances will pay you the time you are off up to a year,I think.
Then it's time will tell when the company will start the process of getting with the union and you after your time off,as to when they will start your process of returning back to work.
Now the FRA rules are three strikes and your out.Meaning three stop signal violations and they de-certify you as an Engineer.As far as conductors,I'm not sure,but now they also carry license's ,so I'm not positive how the certifying goes with them on this type of violation.
And the big one now is the cell phone usage violations.The FRA can and will obtain your cell phone records and see if you were texting at anytime during your tour of duty.This can mean automatic dismissal if found guilty of this during a stop signal violation,and a possible fine from the FRA of up to $25,000.But there's a lot and I mean a lot of technicalities that have to be hashed out over this one.
Like mentioned,stop signal violations are serious and hang over your career as a very bad cloud.And I've known of several cases since I hired on ,and all played out just a little different in each one as far as what happened,how the violation occurred and discipline given.
I hope your relative returns to work in a timely manner ,and had job protection insurance.