S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
276
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
(PREFILED)
January 9, 2019
___________
Introduced by M. of A. STECK, FAHY, SANTABARBARA -- read once and
referred to the Committee on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the railroad law, in relation to creating a private
right of action for injured persons
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Section 53-c of the railroad law, as added by chapter 845
of the laws of 1972, is amended to read as follows:
§ 53-c. Obstructing farm and highway crossings. 1. Any officer or
employee of a railroad corporation who shall intentionally obstruct, and
any owner, officer or employee of a railroad corporation who shall
intentionally cause to be obstructed any farm or highway crossing with
any locomotive, train or car for a longer period than five consecutive
minutes is guilty of a violation which shall be punishable by a fine of
not more than one hundred dollars or imprisonment for not more than
fifteen days or by both such fine and imprisonment. Notwithstanding the
foregoing provisions of this section or any local ordinance to the
contrary, no owner, officer or employee of a railroad corporation who
obstructs, or causes to be obstructed, any farm or highway crossing
shall be subject to any civil, criminal or other penalty where such
person has no control over the situation causing the obstruction or
where the locomotive, train or car cannot be moved without endangering
the safety of the passengers, the public or freight.
2. ANY PERSON WHO HAS BEEN INJURED BY REASON OF A VIOLATION OF THIS
SECTION MAY BRING A PRIVATE RIGHT OF ACTION FOR DAMAGES TOGETHER WITH
REASONABLE ATTORNEY FEES.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall
have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03380-01-9