Indiana § 9-21-12-5 - Railroad crossings; duty to stop

§ 9-21-12-5. Railroad crossings; duty to stop

Sec. 5. (a) This section does not apply to the following:

(1) A street railway grade crossing within a business or residence district.

(2) Abandoned or unused railroad grade crossings that are:

(A) designated by the Indiana department of transportation under IC 8-6-15-2; and

(B) marked with a "tracks out of service" sign that complies with the requirements of IC 8-6-15-3.

(b) A person who drives:

(1) a motor vehicle, not including a school or private bus, carrying passengers for hire;

(2) a school or private bus that is carrying passengers; or

(3) a vehicle carrying explosive substances or flammable liquids as a cargo or part of a cargo;

shall, before crossing at grade a track of a railroad, stop the vehicle not more than fifty (50) feet and not less than fifteen (15) feet from the nearest rail of the railroad.

(c) While stopped in accordance with subsection (b), the person shall do the following:

(1) Listen through an open window or door.

(2) Look in both directions along the track for an approaching train or other on-track equipment and for signals indicating the approach of a train or other on-track equipment.

(3) Not proceed until the person can proceed safely.

After stopping, the person shall cross only in a gear of the vehicle so there will be no necessity for changing gears while traversing the crossing. The person who drives the vehicle may not shift gears while crossing the track or tracks.

(d) If a police officer or traffic control signal directs traffic to proceed at a railroad crossing, the person who drives a vehicle subject to this section shall proceed in accordance with the instructions of the police officer or traffic control signal.

(e) Except as provided in subsection (f), a person who violates this section commits a Class C infraction.

(f) A person who knowingly or intentionally violates subsection (b)(2) commits a Class B misdemeanor.

[Pre-1991 Recodification Citation: 9-4-1-108.]

As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.9. Amended by P.L.119-1995, SEC.7; P.L.87-2003, SEC.2; P.L.8-2010, SEC.6; P.L.217-2014, SEC.54.