Bill > SF40

Introduced Session

This bill requires a railroad company to install and maintain at least one defect detector, as defined in the bill, on or along every railway branch line upon which the company’s trains operate. If the branch line is longer than 15 miles, one defect detector is required at least every 15 miles. Railroad companies that operate trains on the same railway may share such costs and are jointly and severally liable in any suit arising from the installation and maintenance of all defect detectors, or lack thereof, on or along the railway branch line. A railroad company that operates a train on a railway branch line that does not have a defect detector installed as required under the bill is subject to a schedule “five” penalty under Code section 327C.5 for every mile of the branch line, or every mile that is more than 15 miles away from a defect detector, as applicable. A railroad company is also subject to a schedule “five” penalty for each time a train crosses or passes by a defect detector that fails to notify the train crew of a detected defect. A schedule “five” penalty is a fine of not less than $500 nor more than $5,000 for a first violation, and not less than $5,000 nor more than $10,000 for a subsequent violation.

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Tom Shipley (R)*, 

Subcommittee recommends passage. (on 01/29/2025)

Official Document