§20151 Railroad Trespassing, Vandalism, and Highway-rail Grade Crossing Warning Sign Violation Prevention Strategy

Summary

The Secretary of Transportation must review laws about trespassing on railroad property, vandalism that affects railroad safety, and drivers ignoring highway-rail crossing warnings. After talking with interested groups, the Secretary must create model prevention plans and model laws for states and local governments to use. The first review must be finished within 1 year after the date of enactment of the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008, and the Secretary must update the models from time to time. The Secretary also had to make model laws for penalties for vandalism and trespass within 18 months after November 2, 1994, and must make model laws for crossing-warning violations not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008. The Secretary must also run a continuing outreach program to improve communication among Federal railroad safety inspectors, State inspectors certified by the Federal Railroad Administration, railroad police, and State and local law officers. The program must raise public and police awareness of the illegality and dangers of trespassing, help create prevention strategies, and strengthen enforcement. Defined term: “violation of highway-rail grade crossing signs, signals, markings, or other warning devices” — means certain dangerous driver actions at crossings, like going around gates, ignoring flashing signals, crossing without ensuring it is safe at passive crossings, or otherwise creating a hazard near a crossing.