Sec. 14-249. Stopping at grade crossings. - Connecticut Statutes

      Sec. 14-249. Stopping at grade crossings. (a) An operator of a motor vehicle shall bring his or her motor vehicle to a full stop at a railroad grade crossing when warned of an approaching locomotive or a train by a law enforcement officer or flashing lights erected at such grade crossing pursuant to an order of the Commissioner of Transportation and shall refrain from passing over such crossing until the approaching locomotive or train has passed such crossing.

      (b) An operator of a commercial motor vehicle shall refrain from passing over such grade crossing, regardless of whether flashing lights are erected or are operable at such grade crossing, unless all tracks are clear.

      (c) An operator of a commercial motor vehicle shall, upon approaching a railroad grade crossing, drive such motor vehicle at a rate of speed that will enable such motor vehicle to be stopped when required by the provisions of subsection (a) or (b) of this section or section 14-250.

      (d) Violation of any provision of this section shall be an infraction.

      (1955, S. 1401d; P.A. 75-486, S. 42, 69; 75-577, S. 94, 126; P.A. 77-614, S. 571, 587, 610; P.A. 78-303, S. 85, 136; 78-372, S. 4, 5, 7; P.A. 87-449, S. 1; P.A. 05-218, S. 38.)

      History: P.A. 75-486 replaced public utilities commission with public utilities control authority; P.A. 75-577 replaced provision for $100 maximum fine with statement that violation of section is an infraction and made technical grammatical change; P.A. 77-614 and P.A. 78-303 replaced public utilities control authority with commissioner of transportation, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 78-372 expanded provisions by making failure "to refrain from passing over such crossing until the approaching locomotive or train shall have passed such crossing" an infraction; P.A. 87-449 increased penalty from an infraction to a $150 fine; P.A. 05-218 designated existing provisions as Subsec. (a) and amended same by making technical changes, adding "law enforcement officer" and deleting penalty provision, added Subsec. (b) requiring operator of a commercial vehicle to refrain from passing over grade crossing unless all tracks are clear, added Subsec. (c) requiring operator of a commercial motor vehicle, upon approaching a railroad grade crossing, to drive at a speed that will enable motor vehicle to be stopped when required and added Subsec. (d) specifying that violation of section is infraction, effective July 1, 2005.

      See Sec. 14-111g re operator's retraining program.

      See Sec. 14-301(e) re stopping at stop signs posted at grade crossings.

      See chapter 881b re infractions of the law.