Virginia Code 56-412.1: Railroad cars obstructing street or road; standing vehicle on railroad track.
It shall be unlawful for any railroad company, or any receiver or trustee operating a railroad, to obstruct for a longer period than five minutes the free passage on any street or road by standing cars or trains across the same, except a passenger train while receiving or discharging passengers, but a passway shall be kept open to allow normal flow of traffic; nor shall it be lawful to stand any wagon or other vehicle on the track of any railroad which will hinder or endanger a moving train; provided that when a train has been uncoupled, so as to make a passway, the time necessarily required, not exceeding three minutes, to pump up the air after the train has been recoupled shall not be included in considering the time such cars or trains were standing across such street or road. Any such railroad company, receiver or trustee, violating any of the provisions of this section shall be fined not less than $100 nor more than $500; provided that the fine may be $100 for each minute beyond the permitted time but the total fine shall not exceed $500.
Terms Used In Virginia Code 56-412.1
- company: includes all corporations created by acts of the General Assembly of Virginia, or under the general incorporation laws of this Commonwealth, or doing business therein, and shall exclude all municipal corporations, other political subdivisions, and public institutions owned or controlled by the Commonwealth. See Virginia Code 56-1
- Railroad: includes all railroad or railway lines, whether operated by steam, electricity, or other motive power, except when otherwise specifically designated. See Virginia Code 56-1
- Railroad company: includes any company, trustee or other person owning, leasing or operating a railroad. See Virginia Code 56-1
- Trustee: A person or institution holding and administering property in trust.
This section shall not apply when the train is stopped due to breakdown, mechanical failure or emergency.
1958, c. 242; 1976, c. 89.