HB348 Alabama 2024 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Danny Garrett Representative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2024

Title

Emergency services; railroad crossings, prohibitions on the blocking of crossing under certain conditions

Description

This bill would provide that, except for trains stopped due to mechanical failure where separation or movement is not possible, and except for trains stopped as required by federal law, any train that has come to a complete stop and is blocking a railroad-highway grade crossing shall be cut, separated, or moved to clear the crossing upon the approach of any authorized emergency vehicle.

This bill would deem a train that blocks a railroad-highway grade crossing for two or more continuous hours to be a public nuisance and would levy a civil penalty of $7,500 for each additional hour the train blocks the railroad-highway grade crossing. The civil penalty would be limited to $75,000 per day.

This bill would also authorize a court to order the cutting, separation, or movement of a train that blocks a crossing in violation of this act, and would assess all costs to the applicable rail carrier.

Show more Show less

Subjects

Motor Vehicles & Traffic