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House Bill 1937




    Florida House of Representatives - 1997                HB 1937

        By Representative Stafford






  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to railroad-highway grade

  3         crossings; amending s. 351.034, F.S.;

  4         prohibiting a train, railroad car, or engine

  5         from blocking a railroad-highway grade crossing

  6         for a certain time; providing an effective

  7         date.

  8

  9  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

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11         Section 1.  Section 351.034, Florida Statutes, is

12  amended to read:

13         351.034  Railroad-highway grade crossings to be cleared

14  for emergency vehicles.--Except for trains or equipment

15  stopped due to mechanical failure where separation or movement

16  is not possible, any train or equipment that has come to a

17  complete stop and is blocking a railroad-highway grade

18  crossing must be cut, separated, or moved to clear the

19  crossing upon the approach of any emergency vehicle, which for

20  the purpose of this law shall be:

21         (1)  An ambulance operated by public authority or by

22  private persons;

23         (2)  A fire engine; or an emergency vehicle operated by

24  power or electric companies; or

25         (3)  Any other vehicle when operated as an emergency

26  vehicle, defined as one which is engaged in the saving of

27  life, property, or responding to any other public peril; or

28         (4)  Emergency vehicles used as such by the Government

29  of the United States.;

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CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    Florida House of Representatives - 1997                HB 1937

    289-203-97






  1  When, upon the approach of such emergency vehicle, such

  2  vehicle gives due warning of its approach to such crossing by

  3  the sounding of sirens, flashing of lights, waving of flag, or

  4  any other warning sufficient to attract attention to such

  5  emergency vehicle; and thereupon the said train or equipment

  6  shall be cut and said crossing shall be cleared with all

  7  possible dispatch to permit the crossing and passing through

  8  of said emergency vehicle. In addition to the provisions of

  9  this section, it is unlawful for any railroad corporation to

10  permit any train, railroad car, or engine to obstruct public

11  travel at a railroad-highway grade crossing for a period of

12  more than 5 minutes, except if such train, railroad car, or

13  engine cannot be moved by reason of circumstances over which

14  the railroad corporation has no control.

15         Section 2.  This act shall take effect October 1, 1997.

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18                          HOUSE SUMMARY

19
      Prohibits a train, railroad car, or engine from blocking
20    a railroad-highway grade crossing for more than 5
      minutes.
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