Drivers carrying explosive substances or flammable liquids must slow down and check for trains before crossing railroad tracks, and in some cases must stop instead.
Sec. 545.254. VEHICLES CARRYING EXPLOSIVE SUBSTANCES OR FLAMMABLE LIQUIDS. (a) Before crossing a railroad grade crossing, an operator of a vehicle that has an explosive substance or flammable liquid as the vehicle's principal cargo and that is moving at a speed of more than 20 miles per hour: (1) shall reduce the speed of the vehicle to 20 miles per hour or less before coming within 200 feet of the nearest rail of the railroad; (2) shall listen and look in both directions along the track for an approaching train or other on-track equipment and for signals indicating the approach of a train or other on-track equipment; and (3) may not proceed until the operator determines that the course is clear. (b) The operator of a vehicle that has an explosive substance or flammable liquid as the vehicle's principal cargo, before crossing a railroad grade crossing on a highway in a municipality: (1) shall stop the vehicle not closer than 15 feet or farther than 50 feet from the nearest rail of the railroad; (2) while stopped, shall listen and look in both directions along the track for an approaching train or other on-track equipment and for signals indicating the approach of a train or other on-track equipment; and (3) may not proceed until the operator determines that the course is clear. (c) Subsections (a) and (b) do not apply: (1) if a police officer, crossing flagger, or traffic-control signal directs traffic to proceed; (2) where a railroad flashing signal is installed and does not indicate an approaching train or other on-track equipment; (3) to an abandoned or exempted grade crossing that is clearly marked by or with the consent of the state, if the markings can be read from the operator's location; (4) at a streetcar crossing in a business or residential district of a municipality; or (5) to a railroad track used exclusively for industrial switching purposes in a business district. (d) This section does not exempt the operator from compliance with Section 545.251 or 545.252. (e) An offense under this section is punishable by a fine of not less than $50 or more than $200. Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995. Amended by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 30.107(d), eff. Sept. 1, 1997. Amended by: Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 128 (H.B. 1759), Sec. 6, eff. September 1, 2021.