Sec. 13b-343. (Formerly Sec. 16-159). Gates, flagmen and signals. Forfeiture.
The Commissioner of Transportation, when requested in writing by the selectmen of
any town, the mayor and common council of any city or the warden and burgesses of
any borough to order gates, a flagman or electric signals or other signal device to be
installed and maintained at any railroad crossing where a railroad crosses a public highway at grade within such town, city or borough, shall hold a hearing thereon or may,
of his own motion, hold such hearing, first giving the town, city or borough wherein the
crossing is located, and the company operating the railroad, reasonable notice thereof. If
the commissioner upon such hearing finds that public safety requires it, the commissioner shall order such company to install and maintain, at such crossing, gates, a flagman
or such electric signals or other signal device as may be approved by the commissioner,
or to do any other act deemed necessary for the protection of the public. The commissioner may rescind, alter or amend any such order, whenever the commissioner deems
it necessary, upon first giving the municipality wherein the crossing is located and the
railroad company an opportunity to be heard thereon. If any such company fails to
comply with any order of the commissioner made pursuant to this section, it shall forfeit
to the state fifty dollars for each day of such failure.
(1949 Rev., S. 5541; P.A. 75-486, S. 1, 69; P.A. 77-614, S. 571, 587, 610; P.A. 78-303, S. 85, 136.)
History: P.A. 75-486 substituted "public utilities control authority" for "commission", i.e. public utilities commission,
and "authority" for "commission" where appearing thereafter, effective December 1, 1975; P.A. 77-614 and P.A. 78-303
substituted "commissioner of transportation" for "public utilities control authority" and "commissioner" for "authority",
effective January 1, 1979; in 1981 Sec. 16-159 transferred to Sec. 13b-343.
Annotations to former section 16-159:
Requirements of commission are not exhaustive; railroad may be negligent in not providing other safeguards. 102 C.
750; 103 C. 508; but see 90 C. 56; 81 C. 609. Cited. 136 C. 683.
Cited. 15 CS 109.
Annotation to present section:
Cited. 33 CA 775-780.
Sec. 13b-344. (Formerly Sec. 16-160). Signs at grade crossings. Notification of
locations of railroad crossings. Local police or firemen to direct traffic at crossings
with malfunctioning gates or signals. (a) Each town, city or borough shall place, inspect and maintain warning signs and pavement markings consisting of stop lines and
advance warning markings on each highway approaching a crossing at grade of such
highway and the tracks of any railroad within the respective limits of such town, city
or borough. Such signs shall be furnished by the railroad company crossing such highway. Such signs and pavement markings shall conform with the Federal Highway Administration's Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices and shall be placed in a
manner that conforms with said manual. If in the case of any such crossing it appears
that the placing of the signs prescribed by this section is impracticable or unnecessary,
the Commissioner of Transportation may release such municipality from the obligation
of placing and maintaining such signs on the highway near such crossing. The railroad
company operating over such crossing, or the private party or corporation owning a
railroad right-of-way, shall annually notify in writing the appropriate town, city, borough
or, in the case of a state highway, the Commissioner of Transportation of the location
of all railroad crossings within the respective limits of such town, city or borough and
the obligations of such town, city or borough under the provisions of this subsection.
The commissioner shall provide each such railroad company, private party or corporation with a list of the towns, cities and boroughs to be notified in accordance with this
subsection. Such list shall include the name and address of the official to whom such
notification shall be delivered.
(b) Each town, city or borough, upon receipt of a report of a malfunctioning grade
crossing gate or signal shall dispatch local police or firemen to the crossing who shall,
upon consultation with the railroad company crossing such highway, either direct traffic
across the crossing or to an alternate route until such time as the railroad company
crossing such highway repairs the gate or signal or assumes responsibility for directing
traffic.
(1949 Rev., S. 5542; P.A. 75-486, S. 1, 69; P.A. 77-614, S. 571, 610; P.A. 90-329, S. 1; P.A. 00-148, S. 12, 41.)
History: P.A. 75-486 substituted public utilities control "authority" for public utilities "commission", effective December 1, 1975; P.A. 77-614 substituted "commissioner of transportation" for "authority", effective January 1, 1979; in 1981
Sec. 16-160 transferred to Sec. 13b-344; P.A. 90-329 added a new Subsec. (b) requiring local police or firemen to direct
traffic at crossings at grade with malfunctioning gates or signals; P.A. 00-148 amended Subsec. (a) by requiring the
inspection of warning signs and the placement, inspection and maintenance of certain pavement markings, by replacing
requirements that signs and pavement markings conform with standards set by the American Association of State Highway
Officials and be placed in conspicuous locations with requirement that signs and pavement markings conform with the
Federal Highway Administration's Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, by deleting provision re petition of municipality and by adding procedure for notification to the appropriate municipality of all railroad crossings within the limits
of the municipality, and amended Subsec. (b) by requiring municipal police or firemen to consult with the railroad company
crossing the highway re a report of a malfunctioning grade crossing gate or signal, effective May 26, 2000.
Annotation to former section 16-160:
Cited. 136 C. 683.
Annotation to present section:
Cited. 33 CA 775, 777.
Sec. 13b-345. (Formerly Sec. 16-161). Duty of Commissioner of Transportation re grade crossings. Traffic control measures. Installation of signs. Logs listing
crossing malfunctions. Inspections and repair of malfunctioning gates. (a) The
Commissioner of Transportation shall investigate conditions surrounding all railroad
crossings with public highways at grade and determine at which of such crossings public
safety reasonably requires that any person traveling upon the highway shall come to
a stop or proceed with caution before passing over the tracks at such crossing. The
commissioner may require the railroad company at each of such crossings so determined
to erect and maintain on the highway and within the limits of its right-of-way a "stop",
"caution" or other sign of a type approved by the commissioner, and may require the
company at any grade crossing to erect and maintain stop, caution, warning or other
signs of a type approved by the commissioner, but where the tracks cross at grade on
state highways, the State Traffic Commission shall prescribe the nature of traffic control
devices and traffic control measures to be installed at such grade crossings. When traffic
control measures are to be installed on state highways, they shall be furnished and
installed by the Commissioner of Transportation.
(b) The commissioner shall require each railroad company operating trains at or
above twenty-five miles per hour, at all of its crossings at grade with gates or signals,
to erect and maintain, within the limits of its right-of-way, a sign advising the public to
call the 911 emergency telecommunications number upon the malfunctioning of any
grade crossing gates or signals. Such sign shall be of a type approved by the commissioner or the State Traffic Commission.
(c) The commissioner shall require each railroad company to maintain logs, subject
to the inspection of the department, listing all reports of the malfunctioning of its grade
crossing gates or signals. Each log shall contain information concerning all investigations and actions taken by the company to repair the malfunctioning gates or signals.
Each company shall report to the municipality all actions taken to repair any malfunctioning gates or signals within the municipality.
(d) Each railroad company, upon receiving a report of the malfunctioning of one
of its crossing gates or signals, shall immediately investigate such report and repair any
malfunction. Such inspection shall not be completed from a moving train.
(1949 Rev., S. 5543; 1963, P.A. 246; 1969, P.A. 768, S. 224; P.A. 75-486, S. 1, 69; P.A. 77-614, S. 571, 610; P.A. 90-329, S. 2; P.A. 00-148, S. 13, 41.)
History: 1963 act provided for state traffic commission to prescribe traffic control devices and measures where trucks
cross at grade on state highways and for the state highway commissioner to furnish and install traffic control measures on
state highways; 1969 act substituted "commissioner of transportation" for "state highway commissioner"; P.A. 75-486
substituted "public utilities control authority" for "commission", i.e. public utilities commission, and "authority" for "commission" where appearing thereafter, effective December 1, 1975; P.A. 77-614 substituted "commissioner of transportation" for "public utilities control authority" and "commissioner" for "authority" where appearing, effective January 1,
1979; in 1981 Sec. 16-161 transferred to Sec. 13b-345; P.A. 90-329 added a new Subsec. (b) requiring railroad companies
to erect signs with the 911 emergency telecommunications telephone number at all of crossings at grade, a new Subsec.
(c) requiring railroad companies to maintain logs of all malfunctioning gates or signals, a new Subsec. (d) requiring railroad
companies to immediately investigate and repair all malfunctioning gates or signals and a new Subsec. (e) exempting trains
which do not exceed twenty-five miles per hour from the provisions of the section; P.A. 00-148 amended Subsec. (b) by
adding provision limiting the requirements of subsection to railroad companies operating trains at or above twenty-five
miles per hour and deleted former Subsec. (e) re exemption of railroad companies operating trains which do not exceed
twenty-five miles per hour, effective May 26, 2000.
Annotation to former section 16-161:
Cited. 136 C. 683.
Annotations to present section:
Cited. 26 CA 74, 79. Cited. 33 CA 775, 777, 778.
Sec. 13b-345a. Towns authorized to petition the department to install a mandatory stop on any municipal or state highway approaching a crossing at grade.
Any town, city or borough may petition the Department of Transportation to provide a
mandatory stop on any municipal or state highway approaching a crossing at grade.
Upon receipt of any such petition, the department shall fix a time and place of hearing,
within a reasonable time, and shall provide notice of such hearing to the public through
publication of notice in a newspaper having general circulation in the town, city or
borough where such crossing is located. Within sixty days of the hearing the department
shall render a written decision on the petition.
(P.A. 90-329, S. 3.)
Cited. 33 CA 775, 777.
Sec. 13b-345b. Regulations to ensure safe maintenance, inspection and testing
of signal systems and devices at railroad crossings. Section 13b-345b is repealed,
effective July 1, 1998.
(P.A. 90-329, S. 4; P.A. 98-182, S. 21, 22.)
Sec. 13b-346. (Formerly Sec. 16-162). Penalty. Any person who, without right,
removes, throws down, damages or defaces any sign described in sections 13b-344 and
13b-345, or who, without right, extinguishes or damages any light illuminating any such
sign, shall be fined not more than ten dollars or imprisoned not more than thirty days
or both.
(1949 Rev., S. 5544.)
History: In 1981 Sec. 16-162 transferred to Sec. 13b-346.
Cited. 33 CA 775, 777.
Sec. 13b-347. (Formerly Sec. 16-163). Warnings at grade crossings. Section
13b-347 is repealed, effective October 1, 2002.
(1949 Rev., S. 5545; P.A. 75-486, S. 1, 69; P.A. 77-614, S. 571, 610; P.A. 02-89, S. 90.)
Sec. 13b-348. (Formerly Sec. 16-164). Speed of trains in cities and boroughs.
The power to regulate the speed of railroad trains within the limits of cities and boroughs
shall be vested exclusively in the Commissioner of Transportation.
(1949 Rev., S. 5546; P.A. 75-486, S. 1, 69; P.A. 77-614, S. 571, 610.)
History: P.A. 75-486 substituted "public utilities control authority" for "commission", i.e. public utilities commission,
effective December 1, 1975; P.A. 77-614 substituted "commissioner of transportation" for "public utilities control authority", effective January 1, 1979; in 1981 Sec. 16-164 transferred to Sec. 13b-348.
See Sec. 13b-342 re general orders regarding crossings.
Sec. 13b-349. (Formerly Sec. 16-165). Cars at rear of locomotive. No railroad
company shall operate any regularly scheduled train for the transportation of passengers
which is propelled by a locomotive attached to the cars in any other manner than at the
rear of such locomotive, unless authorized by the Commissioner of Transportation after
hearing and under such limitations as the commissioner may prescribe. The provisions
of this section shall not apply to locomotives while trains are being made up in yards,
or while switching, or in emergencies which interrupt the regular schedule of trains.
Any railroad company which operates any train in violation of the provisions of this
section shall forfeit fifty dollars to the state.
(1949 Rev., S. 5547; P.A. 75-486, S. 1, 69; P.A. 77-614, S. 571, 610.)
History: P.A. 75-486 substituted "public utilities control authority" for "commission", i.e. public utilities commission,
and "authority" for "commission" where appearing thereafter, effective December 1, 1975; P.A. 77-614 substituted "commissioner of transportation" for "public utilities control authority" and "commissioner" for "authority", effective January
1, 1979; in 1981 section 16-165 transferred to section 13b-349.
Sec. 13b-350. (Formerly Sec. 16-166). Standard time. Section 13b-350 is repealed, effective October 1, 2002.
(1949 Rev., S. 5548; S.A. 02-12, S. 1.)
Sec. 13b-351. (Formerly Sec. 16-167). Approach to station. Forfeiture. Each
railroad company shall maintain a convenient and safe approach for vehicles to each of
its passenger stations from the highway and, for a reasonable time before and after the
arrival of any passenger train stopping at such station, shall keep such approach free
from obstruction. The Commissioner of Transportation may make such orders as he
deems necessary and reasonable in each such case to which his attention is called. Any
company violating such an order shall forfeit to the state one hundred dollars for each
day of such violation.
(1949 Rev., S. 5549; P.A. 75-486, S. 1, 69; P.A. 77-614, S. 571, 587, 610; P.A. 78-303, S. 85, 136.)
History: P.A. 75-486 substituted "public utilities control authority" for "commission", i.e. public utilities commission,
effective December 1, 1975; P.A. 77-614 and P.A. 78-303 substituted "commissioner of transportation" for "public utilities
control authority", effective January 1, 1979; in 1981 Sec. 16-167 transferred to Sec. 13b-351.
Sec. 13b-352. (Formerly Sec. 16-168). Platforms; hand cars; water; baggage
checks; stations posted. Section 13b-352 is repealed, effective October 1, 2002.
(1949 Rev., S. 5550; P.A. 75-486, S. 1, 69; P.A. 77-614, S. 571, 610; S.A. 02-12, S. 1.)
Sec. 13b-353. (Formerly Sec. 16-169). Water closets at stations. Each company
operating a railroad shall maintain at each regular passenger station such suitable water
closets as in the judgment of the Commissioner of Transportation the public convenience
may require. The commissioner may make all necessary orders relating thereto and
enforce the same by mandamus in the name of the state.
(1949 Rev., S. 5551; P.A. 75-486, S. 1, 69; P.A. 77-614, S. 571, 610.)
History: P.A. 75-486 substituted "public utilities control authority" for "commission", i.e. public utilities commission,
and "authority" for "commission", effective December 1, 1975; P.A. 77-614 substituted "commissioner of transportation"
for "public utilities control authority" and "commissioner" for "authority", effective January 1, 1979; in 1981 Sec. 16-169
transferred to Sec. 13b-353.
Sec. 13b-354. (Formerly Sec. 16-169a). Maintenance of station and working
yard areas. As used in this section "working yard area" means the area used for the
classification and storage of passenger and freight cars. Each railroad company shall
maintain its station and working yard areas free from debris, weeds and vegetation.
(1969, P.A. 329, S. 1, 2.)
History: In 1981 Sec. 16-169a transferred to Sec. 13b-354.
Sec. 13b-354a. Maintenance of margins alongside tracks and rights-of-way.
Filing complaint by railroad labor representative. Regulations. (a) Every railroad
shall maintain and keep clear of debris the margins alongside their tracks on their right-of-way and alongside their yard tracks used for switching operations where railroad
employees are required to walk in the course of their duties. Such margins constitute
the area between the ends of the ties and a distance of nine feet on either side of the
center line of any track in any yard. Each railroad shall keep the area around any switch
in any such yard clear of debris for a distance of nine feet on either side of the center
line of any tracks wherein any such switch is located. Such debris shall include, but not
be limited to, used or discarded brake shoes, air hoses, railroad ties, or portions thereof,
parts of railroad cars or locomotives, lumber and oil, grease or waste of any type. Debris
does not include track materials being placed on or removed from the tracks under
maintenance or replacement programs concerning which the railroad has notified its
employees of the presence and location of such materials.
(b) If after fifteen days all normal collective bargaining procedures or those specified in state or federal regulations have failed to resolve a debris condition as specified
in this section, upon the filing by a recognized railroad labor representative, as defined
by the Railway Labor Act, 45 USC 151 to 159a, inclusive, as from time to time amended,
of a written, verified complaint with the railroad superintendent of the division involved
and with the Department of Transportation, designating the nature of the debris and the
particular area or location where any of the above-described debris has existed for a
period of at least seventy-two hours, the superintendent of the division shall advise the
complainant as well as the Department of Transportation within ten days as to the specific
remedies or actions said superintendent intends to take to resolve the complaint. If the
superintendent takes issue or disagrees with the verified complaint filed by the designated railroad labor representative, he shall within ten days so notify said representative
and the Department of Transportation. The Department of Transportation shall be allowed a period of fifteen days to determine the veracity of said complaint. If the complaint proves to be correct as verified by the Department of Transportation inspector,
the Department of Transportation shall then issue appropriate orders to the railroad
specifying that the conditions be rectified within ten days. At the end of the tenth day,
if the conditions still persist, the Department of Transportation shall be empowered to
fine the railroad the sum of fifty dollars per day until such time as the complaint has
been rectified.
(c) The Department of Transportation shall adopt regulations, in accordance with
chapter 54, to carry out the provisions of this section.
(P.A. 89-372, S. 3, 4; P.A. 03-115, S. 79.)
History: P.A. 03-115 amended Subsec. (c) to make a technical change.
Sec. 13b-354b. Maintenance of way crews or employees working in area of
double or multiple railroad tracks. Whenever maintenance of way crews or employees
are working in the area of double or multiple railroad tracks the following safety precautions are required: (1) All trains shall be notified of the location, by mile post, of the
crews or employees working on the track, such notification shall be in writing to the
train engineer from the carrier; (2) all trains operating on such tracks shall operate at a
speed not to exceed fifty miles per hour; (3) one member of the crew shall be assigned
as a flag person to warn other crewmen or employees of approaching trains and such
flagperson shall be equipped with a radio, horn and flag; and (4) no work shall be
conducted and all crewmen or employees shall stand clear while a train is approaching
and passing through a work area.
(P.A. 90-258.)
Sec. 13b-355. (Formerly Sec. 16-170). Bulletin of late trains. Forfeiture. The
Commissioner of Transportation, whenever requested by twenty electors residing within
two miles of any station on a railroad in this state, or by the first selectman of the town,
the mayor of the city or the warden of the borough in which such station is located, shall
require the company owning such station to bulletin the arrival and departure of all
trains over ten minutes late. No such order shall be rescinded except after hearing by
the commissioner held at or near such station, after reasonable notice by mail to the
signers of such request. Any company failing to comply with such order shall forfeit to
the state fifty dollars for each day of such neglect.
(1949 Rev., S. 5552; P.A. 75-486, S. 1, 69; P.A. 77-614, S. 571, 610.)
History: P.A. 75-486 substituted "public utilities control authority" for "commission", i.e. public utilities commission,
and "authority" for "commission" thereafter, effective December 1, 1975; P.A. 77-614 substituted "commissioner of
transportation" for "public utilities control authority" and "commissioner" for "authority", effective January 1, 1979; in
1981 Sec. 16-170 transferred to Sec. 13b-355.
Secs. 13b-356 to 13b-359. (Formerly Secs. 16-171 to 16-174). Transportation
of explosives; forfeiture. Charge for storage; forfeiture. Lien for transportation
charges. Receipt; forfeiture. Sections 13b-356 to 13b-359, inclusive, are repealed,
effective October 1, 2002.
(1949 Rev., S. 5553-5556; P.A. 75-486, S. 1, 69; P.A. 77-614, S. 571, 610; S.A. 02-12, S. 1.)
Sec. 13b-360. (Formerly Sec. 16-175). Fire caused by engine; insurable interest. When property is injured by fire communicated by an engine of a railroad company,
without contributory negligence on the part of the person entitled to the care and possession of such property, such company shall be held responsible in damages to the extent
of such injury to the person so injured. Each such company shall have an insurable
interest in the property for which it may be so held responsible in damages and may
procure insurance thereon in its own behalf.
(1949 Rev., S. 5557.)
History: In 1981 Sec. 16-175 transferred to Sec. 13b-360.
See Sec. 23-42 et seq. re liability of railroads for damages caused by sparks and railroad fire hazards generally.
Annotations to former section 16-175:
Company held for damage to B's property caused by fire starting on A's land, and left burning at A's request. 52 C.
271. Statute held constitutional, and that "property" included fences and trees. 54 C. 447. Statute is not penal, and action
thereon is not barred for six years. 56 C. 21. Company cannot have advantage of owner's insurance on property destroyed.
60 C. 129. Liability statutory, not for negligence. 62 C. 339; 93 C. 79. Contributory negligence will defeat recovery on
this statute. 72 C. 28. Nature of evidence admissible; other fires set by sparks from engine. 93 C. 79. What evidence of
damage is admissible; 106 C. 424; where equitable relief is also claimed; id., 434; measure of damage where property has
no real market value. Id., 430.
Sec. 13b-361. (Formerly Sec. 16-176). Notice of claim. No action shall be brought
under section 13b-360 unless written notice of the claim is given to such company within
twenty days after the fire, specifying the day of the fire, giving a general description of
the property injured and stating the amount claimed as damages. Such notice may be
given by a letter signed by the claimant or his agent, mailed to the superintendent of the
railroad or delivered to its station agent at a station in the town where the fire occurred.
(1949 Rev., S. 5558.)
History: In 1981 Sec. 16-176 transferred to Sec. 13b-361.
Sec. 13b-362. (Formerly Sec. 16-177). Fire communicated by railway engine.
In an action to recover for any injury occasioned by fire communicated by any railroad
locomotive engine in this state, the fact that such fire was so communicated shall be
prima facie evidence of negligence on the part of the person or corporation who, at the
time of such injury by fire, is in the use and occupation of such railroad, either as owner,
lessee or mortgagee, and of those who at such time have the care and management of
such engine.
(1949 Rev., S. 7899.)
History: In 1981 Sec. 16-177 transferred to Sec. 13b-362.
Annotations to former section 16-177:
Cited. 60 C. 135; 62 C. 338, 339. Doctrine of contributory negligence as applied to such fires. 72 C. 24. Injunctive
relief against operating trains so as to cause further fires. 106 C. 425.
Secs. 13b-363 and 13b-364. (Formerly Secs. 16-178 and 16-179). Clearing land
adjacent to railroad right-of-way. Land damages not affected by fire risk. Sections
13b-363 and 13b-364 are repealed, effective October 1, 2002.
(1949 Rev., S. 5560, 5561; S.A. 02-12, S. 1.)
Sec. 13b-365. (Formerly Sec. 16-180). Certain employees to wear badges. All
the conductors, brakemen and baggagemen employed upon the passenger trains of any
company, when on duty, shall wear, in a conspicuous place, a badge showing their
respective duties and the name of such company.
(1949 Rev., S. 5562.)
History: In 1981 Sec. 16-180 transferred to Sec. 13b-365.
Secs. 13b-366 and 13b-367. (Formerly Secs. 16-182 and 16-183). Trains to stop
before crossing drawbridge or railroad. Interference with navigation. Sections 13b-366 and 13b-367 are repealed, effective October 1, 2002.
(1949 Rev., S. 5564, 5565; P.A. 75-486, S. 1, 69; P.A. 77-614, S. 571, 587, 610; P.A. 78-303, S. 85, 136; S.A. 02-12,
S. 1.)
Sec. 13b-368. (Formerly Sec. 16-184). Drawbridges. Section 13b-368 is repealed, effective October 1, 2002.
(1949 Rev., S. 5566; P.A. 02-89, S. 90.)
Secs. 13b-369 to 13b-374. (Formerly Secs. 16-185 to 16-190). Passing switches,
stations and crossings without stopping; forfeiture. Platforms for shipment of livestock. Hospital stretchers. Hours of labor of telegraph and telephone operators
and train dispatchers. Passenger car regulations. Heating and lighting cars. Sections 13b-369 to 13b-374, inclusive, are repealed, effective October 1, 2002.
(1949 Rev., S. 5567-5572; P.A. 75-486, S. 1, 69; P.A. 77-614, S. 571, 587, 610; P.A. 78-303, S. 85, 136; S.A. 02-12,
S. 1.)
Sec. 13b-375. Enforcement of statutory provisions and orders of commissioner. On application of the Commissioner of Transportation or of the Attorney General, the superior court for the judicial district of Hartford may enforce, by appropriate
decree or process, any provision of this chapter and chapters 245 and 245a or any valid
order of the Commissioner of Transportation pursuant to these chapters.
(P.A. 81-435, S. 3; P.A. 88-230, S. 1, 12; P.A. 90-98, S. 1, 2; P.A. 93-142, S. 4, 7, 8; P.A. 95-220, S. 4-6.)
History: P.A. 88-230 replaced "judicial district of Hartford-New Britain" with "judicial district of Hartford", effective
September 1, 1991; P.A. 90-98 changed effective date of P.A. 88-230 from September 1, 1991, to September 1, 1993; P.A.
93-142 changed the effective date of P.A. 88-230 from September 1, 1993, to September 1, 1996, effective June 14, 1993;
P.A. 95-220 changed the effective date of P.A. 88-230 from September 1, 1996, to September 1, 1998, effective July 1, 1995.
See Secs. 13b-235, 13b-315 for identical provisions relating to railroads and railways generally and railroad construction
and location respectively.
Sec. 13b-376. Operation Lifesaver Committee. Appointments. Duties. Regulations. (a) There is established an Operation Lifesaver Committee which shall be within
the Department of Transportation for administrative purposes only. The committee shall
establish an operation lifesaver program designed to reduce the number of accidents at
railway crossings and to increase the public awareness of railroad crossing hazards. Said
committee shall consist of the Commissioner of Transportation or his designee, the
Commissioner of Education or his designee, and the Commissioner of Public Safety
or his designee, and six members appointed as follows: Two representatives of civic
organizations, one appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate and one appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives, a representative of the
railroad industry appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives, a representative of a parent teacher association appointed by the majority leader of the Senate, a
representative of a local law enforcement agency appointed by the majority leader of
the House of Representatives and a local government official appointed by the minority
leader of the Senate. The Commissioner of Transportation shall serve as chairperson of
the committee. The committee shall meet at such times as it deems necessary.
(b) The Operation Lifesaver Committee shall: (1) Administer and operate the operation lifesaver program; (2) establish committees to promote the program on the local
level; (3) educate the public with information designed to reduce the number of accidents, deaths and injuries at railroad and at-grade crossings; (4) encourage state and
local law enforcement agencies to vigorously enforce the law governing motorist and
pedestrian rights and responsibilities; (5) encourage the development of engineering
and safety improvements; (6) encourage the maintenance of railroad and at-grade crossings; (7) make recommendations to the General Assembly implementing the purposes
of the committee. The committee shall annually review its progress and submit its findings and recommendation to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly
having cognizance of matters relating to transportation.
(c) The Department of Transportation may adopt regulations, in accordance with
the provisions of chapter 54, to carry out the purposes of this section.
(P.A. 92-98, S. 1-3.)
See Sec. 4-38f for definition of "administrative purposes only".