Rhode Island General Laws
Chapter 39-8 - Railroad Crossings
Section 39-8-4. - Obstruction of highway crossings.

§ 39-8-4. Obstruction of highway crossings.
No railroad corporation, nor its servants or agents, shall willfully or negligently obstruct or unnecessarily use or occupy a highway, city or town way, or street, nor in any case at a street or highway grade crossing, with cars or engines for more than five (5) minutes at one time; and whenever a highway, city or town way or street has been thus used or occupied with cars or engines, no railroad corporation shall again use or occupy the same with cars or engines until a sufficient time, not less than three (3) minutes, has been allowed for the passage across the railroad of such travelers as were ready and waiting to cross when the former occupation ceased. For every violation of the provisions of this section, the corporation shall be fined not less than twenty-five dollars ($25.00) nor more than one hundred dollars ($100).
History of Section.G.L. 1896, ch. 187, § 51; G.L. 1909, ch. 215, § 55; G.L. 1923, ch. 251, § 46; G.L. 1938, ch. 124, § 46; G.L. 1956, § 39-8-4.

Structure Rhode Island General Laws

Rhode Island General Laws

Title 39 - Public Utilities and Carriers

Chapter 39-8 - Railroad Crossings

Section 39-8-1. - Surfacing of highways crossed at grade.

Section 39-8-1.1. - Commission control of grade crossings.

Section 39-8-1.2. - Definitions.

Section 39-8-1.3. - Authorization for private crossing.

Section 39-8-1.4. - Barricading of crossings.

Section 39-8-2. - Raising or lowering of highway to eliminate grade crossing.

Section 39-8-3. - Consent to establishment of grade crossing.

Section 39-8-4. - Obstruction of highway crossings.

Section 39-8-4.1. - Removal of debris from railroad rights-of-way, switching devices, and railroad yards.

Section 39-8-5. - Railroads on highways subject to prescribed terms.

Section 39-8-6. - Operation of grade crossings of railroads.

Section 39-8-7. - Town or city regulation of speed and manner of operation.

Section 39-8-8. - Maintenance of highways occupied by rails.

Section 39-8-9. - Order to maintain flagperson or precautionary appliance at grade crossing.

Section 39-8-10. - Failure to maintain flagperson or precautionary appliances.

Section 39-8-11. - Order to maintain electric signals at crossing.

Section 39-8-12. - Municipal order to maintain crossing gates or fence.

Section 39-8-13. - Erection of warning signs along highway.

Section 39-8-14. - Warning bells.

Section 39-8-15. - Failure to erect signs or ring bell.

Section 39-8-16. - Closing of gates at private way.

Section 39-8-17. - Bail to certain railroad employees.

Section 39-8-18. - Fences along right of way.