Pennsylvania § 2705 - Speedometers and speed recorders.

§ 2705. Speedometers and speed recorders.

(a) General rule.--No railroad locomotive shall be operated in excess of 30 miles per hour in this Commonwealth without a device or devices making a record of the speed at which the locomotive is traveling and providing the engineer or operator of the locomotive with a view of such speed. Both devices shall be functioning correctly within four miles per hour.

(b) Exceptions.--Locomotives operated or used exclusively within designated yard limits in switching or transfer service need not be equipped in accordance with the provisions of this section. Locomotives while being used in commuter passenger service need not be equipped with a speed recording device.

(c) Notification of compliance.--Each railroad shall notify the commission of the date that each locomotive comes into compliance with the provisions of this section. The notification shall state the serial number or other identification of the locomotive.

(d) Schedule of regulated locomotives.--Each railroad affected by the provisions of this section shall maintain at a designated location a list or schedule of the locomotives referred to in this section. It shall set forth, along with other information, the date that the device or devices referred to in subsection (a) were calibrated and found to be functioning in accordance with the provisions of this section. It shall advise the commission as to such location. In the event of an accident during the operation of a locomotive or in the event of a disciplinary proceeding in which a railroad employee is charged with excessive speed, the record required by this section showing the speed at the time and place involved shall be retained by the railroad, at a location made known to the Public Utility Commission, until permission to destroy them has been granted by the commission or otherwise permitted in accordance with a rule, regulation or order of the commission. In any disciplinary proceeding in which a railroad employee is charged with excessive speed in the operation of a locomotive equipped with a speed recorder the railroad may not introduce other evidence of such speed unless the record has been retained in compliance with this subsection.

(e) Enforcement.--The commission shall enforce the provisions of this section and may issue such order or orders as may be proper to require compliance therewith.

(Nov. 26, 1978, P.L.1241, No.294, eff. 60 days)

1978 Amendment. Act 294 amended subsec. (d).