AB 274

Under current law, an operator of a vehicle may not drive across a railroad

crossing when a train occupies or is closely approaching the crossing. An operator

of certain vehicles, including motor buses, school buses, and certain motor vehicles

used for transporting hazardous, flammable, or explosive materials (covered

vehicles), must generally stop before crossing any nonexempted railroad track, listen

and look in both directions for an approaching train, and proceed only once the

operator has ascertained that the course is clear.

Under this bill, railroad track equipment is defined as "a device that is operated

on rails and used primarily for the maintenance of railroads." For railroad crossing

purposes, this bill treats railroad track equipment similar to railroad trains. Thus,

under this bill, a motorist must yield to railroad track equipment as for a railroad

train at a railroad crossing and a covered vehicle must listen and look for railroad

track equipment as for a railroad train at a nonexempted railroad tracks.

Also under current law, a railroad must keep its right-of-way clear of brush or

trees for at least 330 feet in each direction from the center of a public railroad

crossing, and for any further distance that is necessary to provide an adequate view

of approaching trains from the highway. Under this bill, a railroad is required only

to keep its right-of-way clear for at least 330 feet in each direction from the center

of a public railroad crossing.