Source: http://lawdelta.org/world/Law:Division_4._Laws_Relating_To_Utility_Corporations_And_Their_Employees_(California)
Timestamp: 2013-05-24 19:58:50
Document Index: 369713937

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 1', 'art 1', 'art 3', 'art 3', 'art 222', 'art 222', 'art 225', 'art 1201', 'art 1', 'art 2']

Law:Division 4. Laws Relating To Utility Corporations And Their Employees (California) - Law Delta
Law:Division 4. Laws Relating To Utility Corporations And Their Employees (California)
1 Chapter 1. Railroad Corporations
1.1 Article 1. Administration And Finance
1.3 Article 3. Rights Of Way And Franchises
1.4 Article 4. Conditional Sale Of Railroad Equipment
1.5 Article 5. Railroad Equipment
1.6 Article 6. Fences
1.7 Article 7. Operation
1.8 Article 7.3. Local Community Rail Security Act Of 2006
1.9 Article 7.5. Hazardous Materials Transportation By Rail
1.10 Article 8. Crimes
1.11 Article 9. Rail Service Assistance
1.12 Article 10. Railroad Safety And Emergency Planning And Response 7710-7727
2 Chapter 2. Street Railroads
3 Chapter 3. Telegraph Or Telephone Corporations
4 Chapter 3.5. New Area Codes
5 Chapter 4. Injury To Public Utility Property
6 Chapter 5. Electrical Line Construction
6.2 Article 2. Surface Transmission
6.3 Article 3. Underground Transmission
7 Chapter 6. Electric Service Areas
7.1 Article 1. Designation By Public Utilities Commission
8 Chapter 7. Miscellaneous Regulations
8.1 Article 1. Adequate Water Service
8.2 Article 2. Railroad And Steamboat Police
8.3 Article 3. Use Of "spotter" Reports
8.4 Article 4. Retirement Fund Investment Losses
8.5 Article 5. Women, Minority, And Disabled Veteran Business Enterprises
Article 1. Administration And Finance
Ca Codes (puc:7503-7508) Public Utilities Code Section 7503-7508 7503. Any person or any corporation formed under the laws of this State or of any other state within the United States that the directors of a railroad corporation may by unanimous concurrence select, may be trustees in any deed of trust securing bonds, debentures, notes, and evidences of indebtedness issued by such railroad corporation. 7505. (a) Revenue derived from passenger rail service on the Northwestern Pacific Railroad right-of-way south of Willits to Larkspur shall only be used for capital improvements to, and operating expenses of, the passenger rail service south of Willits to Larkspur. (b) Real property on which the Northwestern Pacific Railroad right-of-way south of Willits to Larkspur is located shall not be pledged or mortgaged to fund capital improvements on the right-of-way north of Willits. 7508. Subject to the provisions of Part 1 of Division 1 and of the Corporations Code, any railroad corporation, or person or corporation owning any railroad in this State, may sell, convey, and transfer its property and franchises, or any part thereof, to any other railroad corporation, whether organized under the laws of this State or of any other state or territory, or under any act of Congress. The railroad corporation receiving the conveyance may hold and operate the railroad franchises and property within this State, build and operate extensions and branches thereof, exercise the right of eminent domain for such purposes, and do any other business in connection therewith, as fully and effectually as if the corporation was organized under the laws of this State. Article 2. Powers And Duties
Ca Codes (puc:7526-7538) Public Utilities Code Section 7526-7538 7526. Every railroad corporation has all of the following powers: (a) To make such examination and surveys as are necessary to the selection of the most advantageous route for the railroad. The officers, agents, and employees of the corporation may enter upon the lands or waters of any person, for this purpose, subject to liability for all damages which they do thereto. (b) To receive, hold, take, and convey, by deed or otherwise, as a natural person, such voluntary grants and donations of real estate and other property as are made to it to aid and encourage the construction, maintenance, and accommodation of the railroad. (c) To purchase, or by voluntary grants or donations to receive, enter, take possession of, hold, and use all such real estate and other property as is necessary for the construction and maintenance of such railroad, and for all stations, depots, and other purposes necessary to successfully work and conduct the business of the road. (d) To lay out its road, not exceeding 10 rods wide, and to construct and maintain it, with one or more tracks, and with such appendages and adjuncts as are necessary for the convenient use of the road. (e) To construct its roads across, along, or upon any stream of water, watercourse, roadstead, bay, navigable stream, street, avenue, or highway, or across any railway, canal, ditch, or flume which the route of its road intersects, crosses, or runs along, in such manner as to afford security for life and property. The corporation shall restore the stream or watercourse, road, street, avenue, highway, railroad, canal, ditch, or flume thus intersected to its former state of usefulness as near as may be, or so that the railroad does not unnecessarily impair its usefulness or injure its franchise. (f) To cross, intersect, join, or unite its railroad with any other railroad, either before or after construction, at any point upon its route, and upon the grounds of the other railroad corporation, with the necessary turnouts, sidings, and switches, and other conveniences in furtherance of the objects of its connections. Every corporation whose railroad is intersected by any new railroad shall unite with the owners of the new railroad in forming the intersections and connections, and grant facilities therefor. If the two corporations cannot agree upon the amount of compensation to be made therefor, or the points or the manner of the crossings, intersections, and connections, such matters shall be ascertained and determined as is provided in Part 1 (commencing with Section 201) of Division 1. (g) To acquire lands, timber, stone, gravel, or other materials to be used in the construction and maintenance of its road, and all necessary appendages and adjuncts. (h) To change the line of its road, in whole or in part, whenever a majority of the directors so determine, as provided in Section 7531, but the change shall not vary the general route of the road, as contemplated in its articles of incorporation. 7527. Every railroad corporation also has all of the following powers: (a) To carry persons and property on its railroad, and to receive tolls or compensation therefor. (b) To erect and maintain all necessary and convenient buildings, stations, depots, fixtures, and machinery for the accommodation and use of its passengers, freight, and business. (c) To regulate the time and manner in which passengers and property shall be transported, and the tolls and compensation to be paid therefor within the limits prescribed by law and subject to alteration, change, or amendment by the Legislature at any time. (d) To regulate the force and speed of its locomotives, cars, trains, or other machinery used and employed on its roads. (e) To establish, execute, and enforce all needful and proper rules and regulations for the management of its business transactions usual and proper for railroad corporations. (f) To purchase, lease, or acquire the franchises, rights, and property, or any part thereof, of any railroad corporation, leasing or owning any railroad outside of the State, to operate it and use the franchises of any such road, and to build and operate extensions thereof. (g) To purchase, acquire, and hold the stocks, bonds, or other securities of any railroad corporation organized under the laws of this State or of any other state or territory, with full power to sell them. 7528. Every person or corporation authorized to operate a railroad is authorized to use steam, diesel, electricity, compressed air, or any other suitable motive power, for the purpose of propelling cars or trains on the railroad or upon any portion thereof. 7529. Railroad corporations doing business in this State and organized under any law of this State or the United States, or of any state or territory thereof, may enter into contracts with one another, whereby the one may lease of the other the whole or any part of its railroad, or may acquire of the other the right to use, in common with it, the whole or any part of its railroad. 7530. Every railroad corporation in this State shall, within a reasonable time after its road is finally located, make a map and profile thereof, and of the land acquired for the use thereof, and the boundaries of the several counties through which the road may run, and file it in the Office of the Secretary of State. Every railroad corporation shall file like maps of the parts of the railroad located in different counties in the office of the clerk of the county in which such parts of the road are, there to remain of record forever. The maps and profiles shall be certified by the chief engineer, the acting president, and the secretary of the company. Copies of the map and profiles, so certified and filed, shall be kept in the office of the secretary of the corporation, subject to examination by all parties interested. 7531. If, at any time after the location of the line of the railroad and the filing of the maps and profiles thereof, it appears that the location can be improved, the directors may alter or change the location of the line, and cause new maps and profiles to be filed, showing such changes, in the same offices where the originals are of file. The directors may proceed, in the same manner as the original location was acquired, to acquire and take possession of the new line, but shall sell or relinquish the lands owned by them for the original location, within five years after such change. No new location, as herein provided, shall be so run as to avoid any points named in their articles of incorporation. 7531.5. Upon receipt by it of an application, filed with either the federal Surface Transportation Board or the Public Utilities Commission, to abandon a line of railroad, the Public Utilities Commission shall forward a copy of the application to the Department of Transportation within 10 days. 7533. The board of directors of any railroad corporation may at any time after the original location and construction of its railroad, in order to provide better facilities for the public service, construct an additional main line track or tracks either adjacent to the located and operated line or otherwise, but always in whole or in part between the same termini. The railroad corporation may, without abandoning the original location, acquire such rights of way as are necessary for the additional track or tracks, with their appendages and adjuncts, of a similar width as provided in Section 7526 for the original location, either by purchase or condemnation, as therein provided, and may operate the additional tracks in conjunction with any tracks previously constructed, as additional facilities for the railroad system. Nothing herein supersedes or repeals any law relating to the regulation of railroad corporations by the commission, or any law requiring railroads to obtain franchises from the cities or counties through which the additional tracks may pass. 7535. Whenever the track of one railroad intersects or crosses the track of another railroad, whether it is a street railroad, wholly within the limits of a city, or other railroad, the rails of either or each road shall be so cut and adjusted as to permit the passage of the cars on each road with as little obstruction as possible. If the persons or corporations owning the railroads cannot agree as to the compensation to be made for cutting and adjusting the rails, the condemnation of the right of way over the one for the use of the other road may be had in proceedings under Title 7, Part 3 of the Code of Civil Procedure, and damages assessed and the right of way granted as in other cases. 7536. Whenever the track of a railroad crosses another railroad or a highway, such railroad or highway may be carried under, over, or on a level with the track, as is most expedient. Where an embankment or cutting necessitates a change in the line of such railroad or highway, the corporation may take such additional lands and material as are necessary for the construction of the road or highway on the new line. If the necessary lands cannot be had otherwise, they may be condemned as provided in Title 7, Part 3 of the Code of Civil Procedure, and when compensation is made therefor the lands become the property of the corporation. 7537. The owner of any lands along or through which any railroad is constructed or maintained, may have such farm or private crossings over the railroad and railroad right of way as are reasonably necessary or convenient for ingress to or egress from such lands, or in order to connect such lands with other adjacent lands of the owner. The owner or operator of the railroad shall construct and at all times maintain such farm or private crossing in a good, safe, and passable condition. The commission shall have the authority to determine the necessity for any crossing and the place, manner, and conditions under which the crossing shall be constructed and maintained, and shall fix and assess the cost and expense thereof. 7538. At every farm or private grade crossing of a railroad where no automatic grade crossing protective device is in place there shall be installed, as a means of protecting the crossing, one or more stop signs of the type described in Section 21400 of the Vehicle Code or of such other design as the commission may prescribe unless, after a hearing, the commission shall find that the installation of such sign or signs at a particular crossing would create a hazard or dangerous condition that would not otherwise exist. At any grade crossing where stop signs are installed or in place, before traversing such crossing the driver of any vehicle shall stop such vehicle not less than 10 nor more than 50 feet from the nearest rail of the track and while so stopped shall listen, and look in both directions along the track, for any approaching train or other equipment using such rails. The vehicle shall remain standing while any train or other equipment using such rails is approaching the crossing and is close enough to constitute a hazard. A driver of any vehicle who fails to keep his vehicle standing while any train or equipment using such rails is approaching the crossing and which is so close as to constitute a hazard is guilty of a misdemeanor. Article 3. Rights Of Way And Franchises
Ca Codes (puc:7551-7557) Public Utilities Code Section 7551-7557 7551. Every railroad corporation is granted the right of way for the location, construction, and maintenance of its necessary works, and for every necessary adjunct thereto, over any swamp, overflowed, or other public lands of the State not otherwise disposed of or in use, not in any case exceeding in length or width that which is necessary for the construction of such works and adjuncts, or for the protection thereof, and in no case to exceed 200 feet in width. These grants do not apply to public lands of the State within the corporate limits of cities, or within three miles thereof. 7551.1. The Secretary of the Business, Transportation and Housing Agency may grant to every railroad corporation whose primary business is the transportation of passengers the rights-of-way for the location, construction, and maintenance of its necessary works and for every necessary adjunct thereto over any portion of highway owned by the State of California which is not otherwise disposed of or in use, not in any case exceeding in lenght or width that which is necessary for the construction of works and adjuncts, or for the protection thereof, and in no case to exceed 200 feet in width. 7551.3. (a) To ensure that a fair and reasonable price is paid for public acquisition of railroad rights-of-way, it is the intent of the Legislature to have railroad rights-of-way valuation procedures and guidelines developed and adopted for use when state and federal funds are expended. (b) The Secretary of Business, Transportation, and Housing, in collaboration with other public agencies and within existing resources, shall develop recommended procedures and guidelines for valuation of railroad rights-of-way. (c) The recommended procedures and guidelines shall be transmitted to the Legislature and Governor on or before March 1, 1994. 7552. (a) Every railroad corporation is granted the right, subject to subdivision (b), to take from any of the lands belonging to the state, adjacent to the works of the corporation, all materials, such as wood, stone, and earth, naturally appurtenant thereto, which may be necessary and convenient for the construction of its works and adjuncts. (b) Except as specified in subdivision (c), before a railroad corporation may take the materials specified in subdivision (a), the railroad corporation shall enter into an agreement with the Department of General Services to reimburse the state for the full value of the removed materials. The agreement shall contain a provision requiring the railroad corporation to return the land and timber to the natural state which existed prior to the removal of the materials, to the extent it is reasonable to do so, if the Department of General Services determines that requirement to be appropriate. (c) A railroad corporation may take the materials specified in subdivision (a) without previously entering into the agreement specified in subdivision (b) if the railroad takes these materials for the purpose of reopening a rail line which was closed due to an unforseeable or unexpected event. However, within 30 days after reopening the rail line, the railroad corporation shall enter into an agreement with the Department of General Services to reimburse the state for the full value of the removed materials. 7553. When any selection of a right of way, or land for an adjunct to the works of a railroad corporation, is made by any corporation, the secretary thereof shall transmit to the State Lands Commission, the State Controller, and the recorder of the county in which the selected lands are situate, a plat of the lands so selected, giving the extent thereof and uses for which the lands are claimed or desired, duly verified to be correct. If approved, the State Lands Commission shall so endorse the plat, and issue to the corporation a permit to use the lands, unless, on petition properly presented to the court, a review is had and such use prohibited. 7554. If any corporation receiving state lands or appurtenances thereunder is dissolved, ceases to exist, is discontinued, or the route or line of its works is so changed as not to cover or cross the lands selected, or the use of the lands selected is abandoned, the selected lands revert, and the title is reinvested in the State or its grantees, free from all such uses. 7555. No railroad corporation may use any street, alley, or highway, or any of the land, whether covered by water or otherwise, owned by any city or county, unless the right to do so is granted by a vote of the governing body of the city or county. If any railroad corporation operating within a city or county applies to the governing body of the city or county for a franchise or permit to cross any such street, alley, or highway, with main, branch, side, switching, or spur trackage, the governing body of the city or county, within a reasonable time, shall hold a public hearing upon the application after reasonable notice to the applicant and to the public and shall thereafter grant the franchise or permit applied for upon reasonable terms and conditions unless such governing body reasonably finds that the grant of the franchise or permit would be detrimental to the public interest of the city or county. Nothing in this section imposes any duty upon or limits the authority of, any city organized and existing pursuant to a freeholder's charter, or any officer thereof. 7556. The governing body of a county, city and county, or city, under such regulations, restrictions, and limitations, and upon such terms and payment of license tax as the county, city and county, or city may provide, may grant franchises to railroad corporations for the construction of elevated or underground railroad tracks over, across, or under the streets and public highways of any such county, city and county, or city, for a term not exceeding 50 years. Before granting such franchise there shall be presented to the governing body a petition signed by the owners of a majority of the landed property, other than public property, on the line of the elevated portion applied for. 7556.1. Notwithstanding Section 7556, to railroad corporations whose primary business is the transportation of passengers, the governing body of a county, city and county, or city under regulations, restrictions, and limitations, and upon terms and payment of a license tax as the county, city and county, or city may provide, may grant franchises for the construction of elevated or underground railroad tracks over, across, or under the public streets and highways of the county, city and county, or city. 7557. Where any railroad or street railroad tracks are located on property that a public entity is authorized to acquire by eminent domain for road, highway, boulevard, street, or alley purposes or on property that a city, county, or municipal water district is authorized to acquire by eminent domain for the right-of-way of a public utility that it will construct, complete, and maintain, the plaintiff may require the relocation or removal of such tracks by exercise of the power of eminent domain. In such case, the complaint shall contain a description and map of the location and proposed location of such tracks. Article 4. Conditional Sale Of Railroad Equipment
Ca Codes (puc:7576-7578) Public Utilities Code Section 7576-7578 7576. In any contract for the sale of railroad or street railway equipment or rolling stock, it is lawful to agree that title to the property sold or contracted to be sold, although possession thereof may be delivered immediately or at any time or times subsequently, shall not vest in the purchaser until the purchase price is fully paid, or that the seller shall have and retain a lien thereon for the unpaid purchase money. 7577. In any contract for the leasing or hiring of railroad or street railway equipment or rolling stock, it is lawful to stipulate for a conditioned sale thereof at the termination of the contract, and that the rentals or amounts to be received under the contract may, as paid, be applied and treated as purchase money, and that the title to the property shall not vest in the lessee or bailee until the purchase price has been paid in full and until the terms of the contract have been fully performed, notwithstanding delivery to and possession by the lessee or bailee. 7578. No contract of the type provided for in this article shall be valid as against any subsequent judgment creditor or any subsequent bona fide purchaser for value and without notice, unless all of the following conditions are met: (a) The contract is evidenced by an instrument executed by the parties and duly acknowledged by the vendee, lessee, or bailee, as the case may be, or duly proved before some person authorized by law to take acknowledgments of deeds, and in the same manner as deeds are acknowledged or proved. (b) Each car or locomotive engine so sold, leased, or hired, or contracted to be sold, leased, or hired has the name of the vendor, lessor, or bailor plainly marked in letters not less than one inch in size on each side thereof, followed by the word "owner," or "lessor," or "bailor," as the case may be. Article 5. Railroad Equipment
Ca Codes (puc:7601-7614) Public Utilities Code Section 7601-7614 7601. Except as provided in Section 7602 every common carrier by railroad operating within this State shall maintain, on what is known as passing track sidings, a signboard in connection with each derailing switch or other derailing device, whether the derailer is operated where located or from a distance. The signboard shall be placed within 100 feet of the derailer and shall be constructed in either of two forms, viz: board five feet high and 10 inches wide, or sign constructed of two parts, one of which is an upright and the other a transverse board, the upright to be of sufficient height to securely fasten at the top thereof the transverse board, which shall be not less than two feet three inches long and seven inches wide and placed in such a manner that the upper side of the transverse board is not less than four feet above the ties. The board shall have painted thereon the word "derail" in large black letters on a white background. The commission shall enforce this section. 7602. Section 7601 does not apply to any track, siding, spur, or other track owned by private persons for their own use, except when the track, siding, spur, or other track is operated regularly in connection with the line of a common carrier for certain periods, in which case Section 7601 does apply. Section 7601 does not apply to the placing of signboards in places where physical conditions of track will not permit. 7603. Any corporation, company, or person, or any officer, superintendent, manager, or other agent thereof, who violates any of the provisions of Sections 7601 or 7602, is guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than twenty-five dollars ($25), nor more than five hundred dollars ($500) for each offense. Any failure, refusal, or neglect to provide any such signboard at any derailing switch or other derailing device constitutes a separate offense. 7604. (a) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (3), a bell, siren, horn, whistle, or similar audible warning device shall be sounded at any public crossing in accordance with Section 222.21 of Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations. (2) Except as provided in paragraph (3), a bell, siren, horn, whistle, or similar audible warning device shall be sounded, consistent with paragraph (1), at all rail crossings not subject to the requirements of Subpart B (commencing with Section 222.21) of Part 222 of Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations. (3) A bell, siren, horn, whistle, or similar audible warning device shall not be sounded in those areas established as quiet zones pursuant to Subpart C (commencing with Section 222.33) of Part 222 of Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations. (4) This section does not restrict the use of a bell, siren, horn, whistle, or similar audible warning device during an emergency or other situation authorized in Section 222.23 of Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations. (b) Any railroad corporation violating this section shall be subject to a penalty of two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500) for every violation. The penalty may be recovered in an action prosecuted by the district attorney of the proper county, for the use of the state. The corporation is also liable for all damages sustained by any person, and caused by its locomotives, train, or cars, when the provisions of this section are not complied with. 7605. Every railroad corporation, or receiver or lessee thereof, operating any line of railroad in this State by steam locomotives, shall equip all steam locomotives used or to be used in the hauling or propelling of trains over the railroad with a bell ringer apparatus or device which, when set in operation, will ring and continue to ring the locomotive bell automatically, and which is so constructed that it may be set in operation from either or both sides of the locomotive cab. Any railroad company, receiver or lessee thereof, operating any line of railroad within this State by steam locomotives, violating this section shall be punished by a fine of not less than one hundred dollars ($100) or more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) for each offense. 7606. Every steam locomotive used upon a railroad in this State, carrying passengers or freight for hire, shall be equipped with one or more water glasses of the type known as the "solid water glass," the same being a solid piece of glass with open flutings at the back thereof, which flutings will permit the raising and falling of water in the boiler of the locomotive to be plainly visible from each side of the cab without the use of a reflector. The glass shall not be less than seven inches in length and one and one-quarter inches in width, and five-eighths of an inch in thickness. Any person, firm, or corporation operating any such steam locomotive which is not equipped with one or more water glasses as described in this section is guilty of a misdemeanor. 7607. Every railroad corporation, or receiver or lessee thereof, operating any line of railroad in this State, shall equip all locomotive engines used in the transportation of trains over the railroad with electric or other headlights which will project sufficient light to enable the locomotive engineer to observe clearly a dark object the size of an average man, at a distance of not less than 800 feet on a dark, clear night while his train is running at a rate of speed not less than 30 miles per hour. This section shall not apply to locomotive engines regularly used in the switching of cars or trains or used exclusively between sun up and sun down, or going to or from repair shops when ordered in for repairs, nor to locomotive engines used on short lines or local lines where in the judgment of the commission, the headlight required by this section is not necessary for the preservation of public safety. Any railroad company, or receiver or lessee thereof, who violates this section, is liable to the State for a penalty of not less than one hundred dollars ($100), nor more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), for each offense. Suit shall be brought to recover the penalty in a court of competent jurisdiction, in the name of the people of the State of California, by the Attorney General or by the district attorney of any county in or through which the railroad is operated. 7608. Every railroad company, or the receiver or receivers of any railroad, operating trains within this state, shall provide a first aid kit containing written instructions for the use of its contents, on each train or light engine, however propelled, for first aid to persons who may be injured in the course of the operation of the train. The contents of every first aid kit shall be prescribed or approved by the Public Utilities Commission. The employee of the railroad in charge of the train or engine, however propelled, shall report to the office designated by the company whenever any first aid kit has been opened for use. Any railroad company, or the receiver or receivers, or employee of a railroad company, who fails to comply with this section is liable to a penalty of not less than five dollars ($5) nor more than twenty-five dollars ($25), and each day's violation shall constitute a separate offense, except that the railroad company, or receiver or receivers, shall be allowed not to exceed three days without penalty to replace any item after the use of the item has been reported by the employees in charge of the train or engine, however propelled. 7609. Every railroad company, or the receiver or receivers thereof, operating trains in whole or in part within this State, shall provide an emergency first-aid kit on each caboose, locomotive, motor or diesel engine. The emergency first-aid kit shall be used only to render first medical or surgical aid to injured passengers, employees, or other injured persons requiring such aid at the first possible moment. 7610. The employee of any railroad company, or the receiver or receivers thereof, having charge of any passenger train, caboose, locomotive, motor or diesel engine shall report in writing as soon as possible to the office or officer designated by the company or receiver for such purpose, whenever any emergency first-aid kit has been used or has been found missing. 7611. Any person or any employee of any railroad company, or the receiver or receivers thereof, who removes, carries away from its proper place, or uses any emergency first-aid kit, except for the purpose of administering first aid in the event of injury to any passenger, employee, or other person, is guilty of a misdemeanor, and is punishable by a fine of not less than fifty dollars ($50). 7612. It shall be unlawful for any owner or operator of a railroad running through or within the boundaries of the State of California and engaged in the business of common carrier to operate for or transport its employees in a rail track motor car which is not equipped with a transparent windshield sufficient in width and height to reasonably protect said employees, which said windshield shall be of plastic or safety glass and such car shall also be equipped with an electric headlamp of sufficient candle power as to render visible at a distance of 300 feet in advance of such car under ordinary atmospheric conditions, any obstruction, landmark, warning sign or grade crossing on such railroad, and said car shall also be equipped with at least one electric light on the rear end thereof with sufficient candle power as to be visible at a distance of 300 feet under ordinary atmospheric conditions, and such car shall also be equipped with a suitable device that will remove rain, snow and sleet from the windshield on such car. The head and rear lights provided for in this section shall only be required in the hours between one-half hour before sunset and one-half hour after sunrise. 7613. On and after July 1, 1954, any owner or operator of a railroad running through or within this State as a common carrier of persons or property or both, for compensation, which either operates for its employees, or which furnishes to its employees for their transportation to or from the place or places where they are required to labor, a rail track motor car that has not been fully equipped as required by Section 7612 of this code, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor; provided, that any common carrier that has not been able to equip its railroad track motor cars as required by the provisions of said section on or before July 1, 1954, may apply to the Public Utilities Commission for additional time. Upon good cause shown, the Public Utilities Commission is hereby authorized to grant additional time by order to any owner or operator of a common carrier by railroad in which to equip such cars, not to exceed one year from July 1, 1954. When such an order has been granted by said Public Utilities Commission to such carrier, the provisions of this section penalizing such rail carrier which has not so equipped its cars shall not be applicable during the period granted to it. 7614. It shall be unlawful for any owner or operator of a railroad running through or within the boundaries of the State of California and engaged in the business of common carrier to operate for or transport the public or its employees in a caboose which is not provided with flush-type toilet facilities, or chemical type toilet facilities approved by the commission. Article 6. Fences
Ca Codes (puc:7626-7631) Public Utilities Code Section 7626-7631 7626. Every railroad corporation shall make and maintain a good and sufficient fence on both sides of its track and property. If it does not and if its engine or cars kill or maim any cattle or other domestic animals upon its line of road, except where the road runs through or upon public land it shall pay to the owner of the cattle or other domestic animals a fair market price for them, unless the killing or maiming occurred through the neglect or fault of the owner of the animal. 7627. A railroad corporation that pays to the owner of the land through or along which its road is located an agreed price for making and maintaining a good and sufficient fence, or that pays the cost of such fence with the award of damages allowed for the right of way for the railroad, is relieved and exonerated from all claims for damages arising out of the killing or maiming of any animals of persons who thus fail to construct and maintain the fence. The owners of such animals are responsible for any damages or loss which may accrue to the corporation from the animals being upon its railroad track as a result of the nonconstruction of such fence, unless it is shown that the loss or damage occurred through the negligence or fault of the corporation, its officers, agents, or employees. 7628. The commission may require every railroad corporation operating any steam or electric railroad in this State to erect and maintain lawful fences on each or either side of the railroad where the railroad runs through or upon lands of the United States or of this State, at such places as the commission determines that such fences are necessary to protect cattle, horses, or mules, or any other domestic animal being ranged or grazed upon lands adjacent to the railroad from being maimed or killed by the operation or management of engines, cars, or other rolling stock upon or over the railroad, with necessary openings and gates in the fences, and crossings and cattle guards for such openings and gates. 7629. The authority of the commission to require such fences shall be exercised in each instance only when a verified application is filed with the commission by the person or persons owning cattle, horses, mules, or other domestic animals with the right or privilege to range or graze them upon the lands adjacent to the portion of the railroad sought to be fenced. The application shall specify the ownership of the railroad sought to be fenced, and shall set forth a sufficient description of the lands to identify them, the agency or department of government administering the lands, and the nature of the right or privilege of each petitioner to range or graze domestic animals thereon. Upon the filing of the application, notice thereof and of any hearing by the commission thereon shall be given by mail by the commission to the agency or department of government administering the land, and to the railroad corporation owning or operating the railroad. Such owners, agency or department, and the railroad may protest the granting of the application and may be heard thereon. 7630. Upon hearing the commission shall determine whether or not any fence or fences are necessary to protect cattle, horses, mules, or any other domestic animals being ranged or grazed upon the land designated in the application, from being maimed, or killed by the operation or management of engines, cars, or other rolling stock upon the railroad, and shall order that a fence or fences be constructed and maintained by the railroad corporation at such places along the railroad adjacent to the lands designated in the petition as the commission determines. The commission may fix the time within which the fence or fences shall be constructed and may designate the places for necessary openings and gates therein and crossings and cattle guards in connection therewith. The commission may modify or revoke any such order when it determines that the necessity for any such fence has ceased to exist. 7631. The failure of any railroad corporation to comply with any order of the commission authorized by this article shall not subject it, or any of its officers, agents, or employees, to any penalty other than payment by the railroad corporation to the owner of the maimed or killed cattle, or other domestic animals of a fair market price for the animals. Nothing in this article requires a railroad corporation to pay for the maiming or killing of any cattle or domestic animals where the maiming or killing resulted from the neglect or fault of the owner of the animals. Article 7. Operation
Ca Codes (puc:7653-7663) Public Utilities Code Section 7653-7663 7653. Every railroad corporation shall furnish, on the inside of its passenger cars, sufficient room and accommodations for all passengers to whom tickets are sold for any one trip, and for all persons presenting tickets entitling them to travel thereon. When fare is taken for transporting passengers on any baggage, wood, gravel, or freight car, the same care shall be taken and the same responsibility is assumed by the corporation as for passengers on passenger cars. 7654. Every railroad corporation shall print and conspicuously post on the inside of its passenger cars its rules and regulations regarding fare and conduct of its passengers. In case any passenger is injured on or from the platform of a car, or on any baggage, wood, gravel, or freight car, in violation of such printed regulations, or in violation of positive verbal instructions or injunctions given to the passenger in person by any officer of the train, the corporation is not responsible for damages for the injuries, unless the corporation has failed to comply with the provisions of Section 7653. 7655. A check shall be affixed to every package or parcel of baggage when taken for transportation by any agent or employee of a railroad corporation and a duplicate thereof given to the passenger or person delivering the baggage. If the check is refused on demand, the railroad corporation shall pay to the passenger the sum of twenty dollars ($20), to be recovered in an action for damages. 7656. If any passenger refuses to pay his fare, or to exhibit or surrender his ticket, when reasonably requested to do so, the conductor and employees of the corporation may, on stopping the train, put him and his baggage out of the cars, using no unnecessary force, at any usual stopping place, or near any dwelling house. 7657. Every conductor, baggage master, engineer, brakeman, or other employee of any railroad corporation, employed on a passenger train or at stations for passengers, shall wear upon his hat or cap, or in some conspicuous place on the breast of his coat, a badge, indicating his office or station, and the initial letters of the name of the corporation by which he is employed. No collector or conductor, without such badge, is authorized to demand or to receive from any passenger any fare, toll, or ticket, or exercise any of the powers of his office or station. No other officer or employee, without such badge, has any authority to meddle or interfere with any passenger or property. 7658. No city or county or city and county ordinance which establishes a limit on the speed of trains shall be valid unless that ordinance has been approved by the commission. 7659. Notwithstanding any city or county or city and county ordinance to the contrary, no railroad conductor or engineer, who, while operating a train, obstructs a railroad crossing, shall be subject to any criminal penalty, where he has no control over the situation causing the obstruction, or where the train cannot be moved without endangering the safety of the passengers or freight. 7660. The commission, in authorizing any restrictions on the speed of rail services, shall do so only upon receipt of evidence and a finding (a) that the restriction is required due to track condition, alignment, curvature of tracks, superelevation, or inadequate right-of-way protection, or any combination thereof, as the case may be, and (b) that higher speeds will have an adverse impact upon the health and safety of the public until the specified conditions are changed. 7661. (a) The commission shall require every railroad corporation operating in this state to develop, within 90 days of the effective date of the act adding this section, in consultation with, and with the approval of, the California Emergency Management Agency, a protocol for rapid communications with the agency, the Department of the California Highway Patrol, and designated county public safety agencies in an endangered area if there is a runaway train or any other uncontrolled train movement that threatens public health and safety. (b) A railroad corporation shall promptly notify the California Emergency Management Agency, the Department of the California Highway Patrol, and designated county public safety agencies, through a communication to the Warning Center of the California Emergency Management Agency, if there is a runaway train or any other uncontrolled train movement that threatens public health and safety, in accordance with the railroad corporation's communications protocol developed pursuant to subdivision (a). (c) The notification required pursuant to subdivision (b) shall include the following information, whether or not an accident or spill occurs: (1) The information required by subdivision (c) of Section 7673. (2) In the event of a runaway train, a train list. (3) In the event of an uncontrolled train movement or uncontrolled movement of railcars, a track list or other inventory document if available. (d) The consumer protection and safety division shall investigate any incident that results in a notification required pursuant to subdivision (b), and shall report its findings concerning the cause or causes to the commission. The commission shall include the division's report in its report to the Legislature pursuant to Section 7711. 7662. (a) (1) A railroad corporation shall place appropriate signage to notify an engineer of an approaching grade crossing, consistent with federal law. (2) Whistle post signs shall be deemed to satisfy this requirement. (b) (1) Whenever a railroad issues written or verbal instructions to employees that may restrict or stop train movements because of track conditions, structures, persons, or equipment working, appropriate flags that are readily visible and easily recognizable to the crews on both passenger and freight trains shall be displayed as quickly as practicable. Yellow flags shall be used for temporary speed restrictions, consistent with paragraphs (2) and (3). Yellow-red flags shall be used, consistent with paragraphs (4) and (5), when a train may be required to stop. (2) Yellow flags shall be used to warn trains to restrict movement because of track conditions or structures. Except as provided in paragraph (3), a yellow flag shall be displayed two miles before the restricted area in order to ensure that train movement is restricted at the proper location. (3) When the restricted area is close to a terminal, junction, or another area, the yellow flag may be displayed less than two miles before the restricted area. This information shall be included in the written instructions to employees issued pursuant to paragraph (1). (4) Yellow-red flags shall be used to warn trains to be prepared to stop because of persons or equipment working. A yellow-red flag shall be displayed two miles before the restricted area in order to ensure that the train is prepared to stop at the proper location. (5) When the restricted area is close to a terminal, junction, or other area, the yellow-red flag may be displayed less than two miles before the restricted area. This information shall be included in the written instructions to employees issued pursuant to paragraph (1). (6) Flags shall be displayed only on the track affected and shall be displayed to the right side of the track as viewed from the approaching train. The flags shall be displayed to protect all possible access to the restricted area. (c) A railroad corporation shall provide milepost markers to train crews at accurate one-mile intervals. The markers shall be readily visible to the locomotive engineer within the locomotive cab, and shall be kept in good repair and replaced when necessary. (d) A railroad corporation shall place whistle signs to the right of the main track in the direction of approach, exactly one-quarter mile from the entrance to any grade crossing as a point of reference for locomotive engineers who blow the whistle and ring the bell for these grade crossings as a warning to the public. The signs, which shall consist of an "X" or "W" or other identifiable mark or symbol on a square plate mounted on a post, shall be readily visible to a locomotive engineer within the locomotive cab, shall be kept in good repair, and shall be replaced when necessary. (e) A railroad corporation shall place permanent speed signs to the right of the track in the direction of approach, two miles in advance of the point where the speed is either increased or decreased for both passenger and freight trains. The signs shall be readily visible to a locomotive engineer within the locomotive cab, shall be kept in good repair, and shall be replaced when necessary. (f) A railroad corporation shall notify the commission and the collective bargaining representative of any affected employee of any new utilization of remote control locomotives in the state, on or after January 1, 2007. (g) A railroad corporation shall provide immediate notification to the California Emergency Management Agency of accidents, incidents, and other events, concurrent with those provided to the Federal Railroad Administration's National Response Center, as required by Part 225.9 of Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations. 7663. Whenever the Department of the California Highway Patrol or a designated local public safety agency responds to a railroad accident, the accident shall be reported to the California Emergency Management Agency. Article 7.3. Local Community Rail Security Act Of 2006
Ca Codes (puc:7665-7667) Public Utilities Code Section 7665-7667 7665. (a) This article shall be known, and may be cited, as the Local Community Rail Security Act of 2006. (b) The Legislature declares that the purpose of this act is to provide for the security and safety of local communities and local community facilities, to protect local communities from transportation practices that fail to secure rail facilities and equipment from the threat of terrorism, and to ensure proper communication between the owners and operators of rail facilities and equipment with local and state first responders. 7665.1. Unless the context requires otherwise, for purposes of this article: (a) "Agency" means the California Emergency Management Agency. (b) "Secretary" means the Secretary of Emergency Management. 7665.2. By July 1, 2007, every operator of rail facilities shall provide a risk assessment to the commission and the agency for each rail facility in the state that is under its ownership, operation, or control. The risk assessment shall, for each rail facility, describe all of the following: (a) The location and functions of the rail facility. (b) All types of cargo that are moved through, or stored at, the rail facility. (c) Any hazardous cargo that is moved through, or stored at, the rail facility. (d) The frequency that any hazardous cargo is moved through, or stored at, the rail facility. (e) A description of the practices of the rail operator to prevent acts of sabotage, terrorism, or other crimes on the rail facility. (f) All training programs that the rail operator requires for its employees at the rail facility. (g) The emergency response procedures of the rail operator to deal with acts of sabotage, terrorism, or other crimes at the rail facility. (h) The procedures of the rail operator to communicate with local and state law enforcement personnel, emergency personnel, transportation officials, and other first responders, in the event of acts of sabotage, terrorism, or other crimes at the rail facility. 7665.3. The agency may provide the risk assessment provided pursuant to Section 7665.2 to other law enforcement or emergency personnel. 7665.4. (a) By January 1, 2008, every rail operator shall develop and implement an infrastructure protection program to protect rail infrastructure in the state from acts of sabotage, terrorism, or other crimes. (b) (1) The infrastructure protection program shall address the security of all critical infrastructure. (2) The infrastructure protection program shall provide training to all employees of the rail operator performing work at a rail facility on how to recognize, prevent, and respond to acts of sabotage, terrorism, or other crimes. (c) (1) All employees of a contractor or subcontractor of a rail operator, and any other person performing work at a rail facility that is not the employee of the rail operator, shall receive training equivalent to that received by employees of the rail operator pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (b), within a reasonable period of time. The commission, in consultation with the secretary, may adopt reasonable rules or orders to implement this requirement. (2) All employees of a contractor or subcontractor of a rail operator, and any other person performing work at a rail facility that is not the employee of the rail operator, shall undergo an equivalent evaluation of their background, skills, and fitness as the rail operator implements for its employees pursuant to its infrastructure protection plan. The commission, in consultation with the secretary, may adopt reasonable rules or orders to implement this requirement. (d) Each rail operator in the state shall provide to the commission and the secretary a copy of its infrastructure protection program. Notwithstanding Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 6250) of Division 7 of Title 1 of the Government Code, the commission and the secretary shall keep this information confidential. (e) The infrastructure protection program shall be updated by the rail operator at least once every year, and the updated plan shall be submitted to the commission and the secretary. (f) The commission, in consultation with the agency, shall review the infrastructure protection program submitted by a rail operator, may conduct inspections to facilitate the review, and may order a rail operator to improve, modify, or change its program to comply with the requirements of this article. (g) The commission may fine a rail operator for failure to comply with the requirements of this section or an order of the commission pursuant to this section. 7665.6. Every rail operator shall, for all facilities that handle hazardous cargo, do all the following: (a) Secure all facilities that handle or store hazardous materials by providing adequate security personnel. (b) Store hazardous materials only in secure facilities designed for storage, which shall not include mainline, branch, industrial, or passing tracks not so designed or retrofitted. (c) Shall not leave locomotive equipment running while unattended, or leave any unattended locomotive equipment unlocked. (d) Shall ensure that the cabs of occupied locomotives are secured from hijacking, sabotage, or terrorism. (e) Shall not use remote control locomotives to move hazardous materials over a public crossing unless the remote control operator is able to maintain line-of-sight visibility of the public crossing and visually ensure that all automatic highway-rail grade crossing warning devices are functioning as intended, and it is safe for the train movement to enter the public crossing. (f) Shall secure remote control devices to prevent access to those devices by unauthorized personnel. 7665.8. Every rail operator shall provide communications capability that can accomplish all of the following: (a) Timely alerting local and state law enforcement personnel, emergency personnel, transportation officials and other first responders in the event of sabotage, terrorism, or other crimes. (b) Timely provide bridge tenders on moveable bridges the ability to alert local and state law enforcement personnel, emergency personnel, transportation officials and other first responders in the event of sabotage, terrorism, or other crimes. (c) Notify rail workers of the local or national threat level for the rail industry. 7666. No rail operator or any other person covered by this article may act to punish an employee who reports a violation of this article. An employee against whom a punitive action is taken may seek civil damages of up to one million dollars ($1,000,000) from any employer that acts to punish an employee who reports a violation of this article, in addition to any other remedies the court deems appropriate. 7667. The provisions of this article are severable. If any provision of this article or its application is held invalid, that invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application. Article 7.5. Hazardous Materials Transportation By Rail
Ca Codes (puc:7671-7673) Public Utilities Code Section 7671-7673 7671. The Legislature finds and declares that the purpose of this article is to protect the health and safety of the public and to improve the safety of transporting hazardous materials by rail. 7672. For purposes of this article, "hazardous material" means either of the following: (a) A hazardous material, as defined in Section 171.8 of Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations. (b) A hazardous material, as defined in Section 25501 of the Health and Safety Code. 7672.5. Any railroad corporation which is involved in an incident resulting in a release, or threatened release, of a hazardous material shall immediately report the type and extent of the release or threatened release in the manner specified in Section 25507 of the Health and Safety Code. 7673. Each railroad corporation which transports hazardous materials in the state shall do all of the following: (a) Provide a system map of the state to the Office of Emergency Services and to the Public Utilities Commission, showing practical groupings of mileposts on the system and showing mileposts of stations, terminals, junction points, road crossings, and the locations of natural gas and liquid pipelines in railroad rights-of-way. (b) Annually submit to the California Emergency Management Agency a copy of a publication which identifies emergency handling guidelines for the surface transportation of hazardous materials, except that if the railroad corporation is classified as a class I carrier by the Interstate Commerce Commission pursuant to Subpart A of Part 1201 of Subchapter C of Chapter X of the Code of Federal Regulations, the railroad corporation shall annually submit to the California Emergency Management Agency 50 copies of this publication which the agency shall make available to the Public Utilities Commission and local administering agencies and to other response agencies. These guidelines shall not be considered comprehensive instructions for the handling of any specific incident. (c) If there is a train incident resulting in a release or an overturned railcar or an impact which threatens a release of a hazardous material, provide the emergency response agency with all of the following information: (1) A list of each car in the train and the order of the cars. (2) The contents of each car, if loaded, in the train. (3) Identification of the cars and contents in the train which are involved in the incident, including, but not limited to, those cars which have derailed. (4) Emergency handling procedures for each hazardous material transported in or on the involved cars of the train. Article 8. Crimes
Ca Codes (puc:7676-7681) Public Utilities Code Section 7676-7681 7676. Every person who, in making up or running any railroad train, places or runs, or causes to be placed or run, any freight car in the rear of passenger cars, is guilty of a misdemeanor, and if loss of life or limb results from such placing or running, is guilty of a felony. This section shall not apply where railroad trains are carrying only personnel and equipment in connection with military or naval movements. "Freight car," as used in this section, does not include a baggage, express, or mail car. This section shall become operative on January 1, 1976. 7677. No person, firm, or corporation operating a railroad with more than four trains each way every 24 hours shall require or permit any engineer, fireman, conductor, brakeman, or trainman to receive, deliver, or transmit at any receiving or forwarding instrument of any telegraph or telephone line, any order for the movement of any train, except in such cases or classes of cases as are permitted by the commission. This section does not apply to interurban or street railroads. Any person, firm, or corporation violating this section is guilty of a misdemeanor. 7677.1. Radio or other means of communication not hereinabove referred to in Section 7677 may be used for the purpose of transmitting orders for the movement of trains, subject to such rules or regulations as the commission may promulgate for insuring the safety of railroad operations. 7678. Except as provided in paragraphs (1) to (3), inclusive, of subdivision (a) of Section 7604, every person in charge of a locomotive engine who, before crossing any traveled public way, omits to cause a bell to ring or steam whistle, air siren, or air whistle to sound at the distance of at least 1,320 feet from the crossing, and until the lead locomotive has passed through the crossing, is guilty of a misdemeanor. 7679. Any person employed upon any railroad as engineer, conductor, baggage-master, brakeman, switchman, fireman, bridge-tender, flagman, or signalman, or having charge of the regulation or running of trains upon any railroad, in any manner whatever, who either becomes or is intoxicated or who is impaired due to the unlawful use of a controlled substance while engaged in the discharge of his duties, is guilty of a misdemeanor. If any person so employed does any act or neglects any duty, by reason of such intoxication or illegal drug use, which act or neglect causes the death of, or bodily injury to, any person or persons, that person so employed is guilty of a felony. 7680. Every conductor, engineer, brakeman, switchman, or other person having charge, wholly or in part, of any railroad, car, locomotive, or train, who willfully or negligently suffers or causes it to collide with another car, locomotive, or train, or with any other object or thing whereby the death of a human being is produced, is punishable by imprisonment in the state prison for two, three or four years. 7680. Every conductor, engineer, brakeman, switchman, or other person having charge, wholly or in part, of any railroad, car, locomotive, or train, who willfully or negligently suffers or causes it to collide with another car, locomotive, or train, or with any other object or thing whereby the death of a human being is produced, is punishable by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 of the Penal Code for two, three or four years. 7681. Every engineer, conductor, brakeman, switch-tender, or other officer, agent, or servant of any railroad company, who is guilty of any wilful violation or omission of his duty as such officer, agent, or servant, whereby human life or safety is endangered, the punishment of which is not otherwise prescribed, is guilty of a misdemeanor. Article 9. Rail Service Assistance
Ca Codes (puc:7700-7705) Public Utilities Code Section 7700-7705 7700. By Section 803 of the Railroad Revitalization and Regulatory Reform Act of 1976, designated in this chapter as the "act," Congress has established a local rail sevice continuation assistance program. Such program is designed to cover: the cost of rail service continuation payments; the cost of purchasing a line of railroad or other rail properties to maintain existing or provide for future rail service; the cost of rehabilitating and improving rail properties on a line of railroad to the extent necessary to permit adequate and efficient rail freight service on such line; and the cost of reducing the costs of lost rail service in a manner less expensive than continuing rail service. The Legislature hereby determines that such program should be implemented in California and that such implementation would constitute a public purpose. 7701. The Department of Transportation, in cooperation with the commission and other affected state and local agencies, shall be responsible for the preparation and periodic update of the state rail plan required by the act. 7702. The Department of Transportation, in cooperation with the commission and other affected state and local agencies, shall perform the duties required by the act in developing, promoting, supervising, and supporting safe, adequate, and efficient rail transportation services; maintaining adequate programs of investigation, research, promotion, and development, with provisions for public participation; and shall take all practicable steps to improve transportation safety and to reduce transportation-related energy utilization and pollution. It is not the intent of this section to diminish in any respect the authority and responsibility of the commission. The department shall work in close cooperation with the commission in carrying out the duties imposed upon it under this chapter. 7703. The Department of Transportation shall administer a program of projects for rail service assistance financed in whole or in part with funds derived pursuant to the act. All necessary matching funds shall be expressly appropriated by the Legislature or donated by public or private entities. 7704. To the maximum extent permitted by federal law, rules, and regulations, the Department of Transportation shall recover the costs of administering this chapter from the federal funds received pursuant to the act. 7705. The Governor, the Secretary of the Business and Transportation Agency, and the Department of Transportation may enter into such agreements, execute such documents, establish and manage such accounts and deposits, act as a recipient, and take any other action that may be appropriate to carry out the rail assistance programs authorized by the act. Article 10. Railroad Safety And Emergency Planning And Response 7710-7727
Ca Codes (puc:7710-7727) Public Utilities Code Section 7710-7727 7710. For purposes of this article, the following definitions shall apply: (a) "Commission" shall mean the Public Utilities Commission. (b) "Fund" means the Rail Accident Prevention and Response Fund created pursuant to Section 7713. (c) "Prevention account" means the Hazardous Spill Prevention Account created, pursuant to Section 7714, in the Railroad Accident Prevention and Response Fund. (d) "Secretary" means the Secretary of the California Environmental Protection Agency. 7711. The commission shall annually report to the Legislature, on or before July 1, on sites on railroad lines in the state it finds to be hazardous. The report shall include, but not be limited to, information on all of the following: (a) A list of all railroad derailment accident sites in the state on which accidents have occurred within at least the previous five years. The list shall describe the nature and probable causes of the accidents, if known, and shall indicate whether the accidents occurred at or near sites that the commission has determined, pursuant to subdivision (b), pose a local safety hazard. (b) A list of all railroad sites in the state that the commission determines, pursuant to Section 20106 of Title 49 of the United States Code, pose a local safety hazard. The commission may submit in the annual report the list of railroad sites submitted in the immediate prior year annual report, and may amend or revise that list from the immediate prior year as necessary. Factors that the commission shall consider in determining a local safety hazard may include, but need not be limited to, all of the following: (1) The severity of grade and curve of track. (2) The value of special skills of train operators in negotiating the particular segment of railroad line. (3) The value of special railroad equipment in negotiating the particular segment of railroad line. (4) The types of commodities transported on or near the particular segment of railroad line. (5) The hazard posed by the release of the commodity into the environment. (6) The value of special railroad equipment in the process of safely loading, transporting, storing, or unloading potentially hazardous commodities. (7) The proximity of railroad activity to human activity or sensitive environmental areas. (8) A list of the root causes and significant contributing factors of all train accidents or derailments investigated. (c) In determining which railroad sites pose a local safety hazard pursuant to subdivision (b), the commission shall consider the history of accidents at or near the sites. The commission shall not limit its determination to sites at which accidents have already occurred, but shall identify potentially hazardous sites based on the criteria enumerated in subdivision (b) and all other criteria that the commission determines influence railroad safety. The commission shall also consider whether any local safety hazards at railroad sites have been eliminated or sufficiently remediated to warrant removal of the site from the list required under subdivision (b). 7711.1. The commission shall collect and analyze near-miss data generated from incidents occurring at railroad crossings and along the rail right-of-way. For purposes of this section, "near-miss" includes a runaway train or any other uncontrolled train movement that threatens public health and safety reported to the commission pursuant to Section 7661. 7712. On or before January 1, 1993, the commission shall adopt regulations, based on its findings and not inconsistent with federal law. The commission may amend or revise the regulations as necessary thereafter, to reduce the potential railroad hazards identified in Section 7711. In adopting the regulations, the commission shall consider at least all of the following: (a) Establishing special railroad equipment standards for trains operated on railroad sites identified as posing a local safety hazard pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 7711. These standards may include, but need not be limited to, standards for all of the following: (1) Sizes, numbers, and configurations of locomotives. (2) Brakes. (b) Establishing special train operating standards for trains operated over railroad sites identified as posing a local safety hazard pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 7711. These standards may include, but need not be limited to, standards for all of the following: (1) Length, weight, and weight distribution of trains. (2) Speeds and accelerations of trains. (3) Hours of allowable travel. (c) Establishing special training, personnel, and performance standards for operators of trains that travel on railroad sites identified as posing a local safety hazard pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 7711. (d) Establishing special inspection and reporting standards for trains operated on railroad sites identified as posing a local safety hazard pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 7711. 7713. (a) The Rail Accident Prevention and Response Fund is hereby created in the State Treasury, and the money in the fund is available for appropriation by the Legislature. The secretary shall administer the fund and the prevention account in accordance with this article, and shall develop and adopt regulations and guidelines necessary to carry out and enforce this article. (b) The State Board of Equalization shall implement the collection of the fee imposed pursuant to Section 7714.5 in accordance with regulations adopted pursuant to Section 7713. (c) The adoption of regulations pursuant to this section shall be considered by the Office of Administrative Law as an emergency necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health and safety, and general welfare. Notwithstanding Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, emergency regulations adopted by the secretary and the State Board of Equalization pursuant to this section shall be filed with, but not repealed by, the Office of Administrative Law, and shall remain in effect until revised or repealed by the secretary. 7714. (a) The Hazardous Spill Prevention Account in the Railroad Accident Prevention and Response Fund is hereby created. The moneys deposited in the prevention account shall be subject to annual appropriation in the Budget Act or other appropriation by the Legislature. The amount deposited in the prevention account and available for appropriation shall not exceed three million dollars ($3,000,000) in any calendar year. (b) The moneys in the prevention account may be expended by the secretary for any of the following purposes: (1) Creation, support, and maintenance of the Railroad Accident Prevention and Immediate Deployment Force created by subdivision (a) of Section 7718. (2) Creation, support, maintenance, and implementation of the state railroad accident prevention and immediate deployment plan developed pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 7718. (3) Creation, support, and maintenance of programs, data registries, equipment, and facilities to respond to, and contain, toxic releases resulting from surface transportation accidents. Expenditures pursuant to this paragraph may be for the purpose of any of the following: (A) Acquisition and maintenance of specialized equipment and supplies. (B) Support of specialized facilities. (C) Creation and support of a state-level and local toxic emergency response teams to provide immediate onsite response capability in the event of large scale releases of toxic substances resulting from surface transportation accidents. (4) Support for specialized training for state and local emergency response officials in techniques for prevention of, and response to, toxic releases resulting from surface transportation accidents. (5) Support for research, data collection, and studies into technologies and techniques for prevention of, response to, and mitigation of, toxic releases resulting from surface transportation accidents. (6) To provide economic assistance to persons, entities, and communities that suffer direct or indirect economic damages from a surface transportation accident. 7714.5. (a) In accordance with regulations adopted pursuant to Section 7713, the secretary shall establish a fee schedule, which shall be paid by each surface transporter of hazardous materials in California in an amount sufficient to fund the appropriation from the prevention account and to maintain a prudent reserve of two months' operating costs, less amounts transferred from the response account pursuant to subdivision (d). (b) The secretary shall, to the extent practicable, identify programs, equipment, and facilities applicable to specific surface transportation modes, and shall establish fees for each surface transportation mode to cover the costs of the programs, equipment, and facilities applicable to that specific surface transportation mode. Fees to cover the costs of programs, equipment, and facilities applicable to all or several surface transportation modes shall be paid in equal shares by surface transportation modes. (c) The secretary may authorize payment of fees through contributions in kind of equipment, materials, or services. (d) For the purposes of the fees authorized by this section, "surface transportation mode" shall not include pipelines subject to the fee assessed pursuant to Section 51019 of the Government Code or any natural gas pipeline. (e) This section shall become inoperative on December 31, 1995. 7718. (a) The Railroad Accident Prevention and Immediate Deployment Force is hereby created in the California Environmental Protection Agency. The force shall be responsible for providing immediate onsite response capability in the event of large-scale releases of toxic materials resulting from surface transportation accidents and for implementing the state hazardous materials incident prevention and immediate deployment plan. This force shall act cooperatively and in concert with existing local emergency response units. The force shall consist of representatives of all of the following: (1) Department of Fish and Game. (2) California Environmental Protection Agency. (3) State Air Resources Board. (4) California Integrated Waste Management Board. (5) California regional water quality control boards. (6) Department of Toxic Substances Control. (7) Department of Pesticide Regulation. (8) Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment. (9) State Department of Health Services. (10) Department of the California Highway Patrol. (11) Department of Food and Agriculture. (12) Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. (13) Department of Parks and Recreation. (14) Department of Boating and Waterways. (15) California Public Utilities Commission. (16) Any other potentially affected state, local, or federal agency. (17) California Emergency Management Agency. (b) The California Environmental Protection Agency shall develop a state railroad accident prevention and immediate deployment plan in cooperation with the State Fire Marshal, affected businesses, and all of the entities listed in paragraphs (1) to (17), inclusive, of subdivision (a). (c) The plan specified in subdivision (b) shall be a comprehensive set of policies and directions that every potentially affected state agency and business shall follow if there is a railroad accident to minimize the potential damage to the public health and safety, property, and the environment that might result from accidents involving railroad activities in the state. 7720. (a) (1) When an appropriate prosecuting agency determines that any person has engaged in, is engaging in, or is about to engage in, any acts or practices which constitute, or which shall constitute, a violation of any provision of this chapter or of any rule, regulation, permit, covenant, standard, requirement, or order issued, promulgated, or executed pursuant to this chapter, the city attorney or district attorney of the jurisdiction in which these acts or practices have occurred, are occurring, or shall occur, or the Attorney General, may make application to the superior court or to the commission for an order enjoining these acts or practices or an order directing compliance with this chapter. (2) A temporary restraining order, preliminary or permanent injunction, or other order may be issued under this subdivision upon a showing that any person has engaged in, is engaging in, or is about to engage in, the acts or practices set forth in paragraph (1). (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in any civil action brought pursuant to this chapter in which a temporary restraining order, or preliminary or permanent injunction is sought, it shall not be necessary for the moving party to allege or prove either of the factors set forth in paragraphs (1) and (2) at any stage of the proceeding. The temporary restraining order or preliminary or permanent injunction may issue without allegations or proof of either of the following factors: (1) That irreparable damage shall occur should the relief sought not be granted. (2) That the remedy at law is inadequate. 7721. Every civil action commenced pursuant to this article for civil or criminal penalties authorized by this article shall be brought by the city attorney, the district attorney, or the Attorney General in the name of the people of the State of California, and any actions relating to the same event, transaction, or occurrence may be joined or consolidated, or may be coordinated pursuant to Section 404 of the Code of Civil Procedure or Division II (commencing with Rule 1501) of Title Four of the California Rules of Court. 7722. Any civil action brought in the superior court pursuant to this article shall be brought in the county in which the spill, discharge, or violation occurred, the county in which the principal place of business of the defendant is located, or the county in which the defendant is doing business in this state. 7723. The civil and criminal penalties provided in this article are separate and in addition to, and do not supersede or limit, any other civil or criminal remedy. 7724. (a) Any person who commits any of the following acts, shall, upon conviction, be punished by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than one year or by imprisonment in the state prison for 16, 24, or 36 months: (1) Except as provided by Section 7724.1, knowingly fails to follow the direction or order of the secretary or the commission arising from a rail accident or release of a hazardous or potentially hazardous commodity from a railcar. (2) Knowingly causes, or aids or abets in, the discharge or spill of, a hazardous or potentially hazardous commodity from a railcar, unless the discharge is authorized by the United States, the state, or another agency with appropriate jurisdiction. (3) Knowingly fails to comply with the regulations adopted pursuant to Section 7712, and that failure results in a rail accident or release of hazardous material or creates a significant risk of accident or release of hazardous material. (b) The court shall also impose upon a person convicted of violating subdivision (a), a fine not to exceed five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) for each violation. For purposes of this subdivision, each day or partial day that a violation occurs is a separate violation. (c) The court shall also impose upon a person convicted of violating paragraph (1) of subdivision (a), a fine equal to twice the cost of abating, repairing, and responding to the cost associated with the illegal discharge of a hazardous or potentially hazardous commodity from a railcar as a result of a rail accident. 7724. (a) Any person who commits any of the following acts, shall, upon conviction, be punished by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than one year or by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 of the Penal Code for 16, 24, or 36 months: (1) Except as provided by Section 7724.1, knowingly fails to follow the direction or order of the secretary or the commission arising from a rail accident or release of a hazardous or potentially hazardous commodity from a railcar. (2) Knowingly causes, or aids or abets in, the discharge or spill of, a hazardous or potentially hazardous commodity from a railcar, unless the discharge is authorized by the United States, the state, or another agency with appropriate jurisdiction. (3) Knowingly fails to comply with the regulations adopted pursuant to Section 7712, and that failure results in a rail accident or release of hazardous material or creates a significant risk of accident or release of hazardous material. (b) The court shall also impose upon a person convicted of violating subdivision (a), a fine not to exceed five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) for each violation. For purposes of this subdivision, each day or partial day that a violation occurs is a separate violation. (c) The court shall also impose upon a person convicted of violating paragraph (1) of subdivision (a), a fine equal to twice the cost of abating, repairing, and responding to the cost associated with the illegal discharge of a hazardous or potentially hazardous commodity from a railcar as a result of a rail accident. 7724.1. (a) If a person reasonably, and in good faith, believes that the directions or orders given by the secretary or the commission would substantially endanger the public safety or the environment, the person may refuse to act in compliance with the orders or directions of the secretary or the commission. The person shall state, at the time of the refusal, the reasons why the person refuses to follow the orders or directions of the secretary or the commission. The person shall give the secretary or the commission written notice of the reasons for the refusal within 48 hours of refusing to follow the orders or directions of the secretary or the commission. (b) In any civil or criminal proceeding commenced pursuant to Section 7724, the burden of proof shall be on the responsible party or potentially responsible party to demonstrate, by clear and convincing evidence, why the refusal to follow the orders or directions of the secretary or the commission was justified under the circumstances. 7724.5. (a) Any person who commits any of the acts set forth in paragraphs (1) to (3), inclusive, shall be liable for a civil penalty not to exceed one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) for each violation of a separate provision or, for a continuing violation, for each day that violation occurs: (1) Negligent failure to follow the direction or order of the secretary in connection with a rail accident or the release of a hazardous commodity from a railcar. (2) Knowingly engaging in, or causing the discharge or spill of a hazardous commodity from a railcar or highway carrier, unless that discharge is authorized by the United States, by the state, or by another governmental agency with appropriate jurisdiction. (3) Negligent failure to comply with any regulation adopted pursuant to Section 7712. (b) Any person who commits any of the acts set forth in paragraphs (1) to (3), inclusive, shall be liable for a civil penalty not to exceed twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) for each violation of a separate provision or, for a continuing violation, for each day that violation occurs: (1) Failure to follow the direction or order of the secretary in connection with a rail accident or the release of a hazardous commodity from a railcar. (2) Engaging in, or causing the discharge or spill of a hazardous commodity from a railcar or highway carrier, unless that discharge is authorized by the United States, by the state, or by another governmental agency with appropriate jurisdiction. (3) Failure to comply with any regulation adopted pursuant to Section 7712. 7725. Twenty-five percent of penalties and fines collected pursuant to any action brought under Sections 7724 and 7724.5 shall be paid to the governmental agency or office which prosecutes the action. The remainder of the penalties and fines collected pursuant to this article shall be deposited into the fund. 7726. (a) When the secretary or the commission determines that any person has engaged in, is engaged in, or threatens to engage in, any practice or act which constitutes a violation of this article, or any regulation or order issued, adopted, or executed pursuant to this article, the secretary or commission may issue an order requiring that person to cease and desist. (b) Any cease and desist order issued by the secretary or commission may be subject to such terms and conditions as the secretary or commission may determine are necessary to ensure compliance with this article. (c) Any cease and desist order issued by the secretary or commission shall become null and void 90 days after issuance. (d) A cease and desist order issued by the secretary or commission shall be effective upon the issuance thereof, and copies shall be served immediately by certified mail upon the person or governmental agency being charged with the actual or threatened violation. (e) The commission may authorize its executive director to exercise the commission's authority to issue cease and desist orders pursuant to this section. 7727. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, this chapter shall not be construed to make a reference to the California Environmental Protection Agency for the purposes of compliance with Provision 2 of Item 3400-002-044 of Section 2. 00 of the Budget Act of 1991. Chapter 2. Street Railroads
Ca Codes (puc:7801-7818) Public Utilities Code Section 7801-7818 7801. Street railroads are governed by Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 7501), so far as it is applicable, unless street railroads are therein specially excepted. 7802. When a street railroad is constructed, owned, or operated by any natural person, this chapter is applicable to such person in like manner as it is applicable to corporations. 7803. Any street railroad or any street railway corporation may sell, lease, convey, exchange, transfer, or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its property and assets, including franchises, under authority of a resolution of its board of directors and with the approval of the principal terms of the transaction and the nature and the amount of the consideration by a vote or written consent of shareholders entitled to exercise a majority of the voting power of the corporation when the sale, lease, conveyance, exchange or transfer of its properties is made to a municipal corporation or any other political subdivision within the State. 7804. Authority to lay railroad tracks through the streets and public highways of any city or city and county may be obtained for a term of years not exceeding 50, from the governing body of the city or city and county, under such restrictions and limitations, and upon such terms and payment of license tax, as the governing body may provide. Permission shall not be granted to propel cars upon such tracks otherwise than by electricity or by wire ropes running under the streets and moved by stationary engines except as provided in Section 7813. The governing body in granting the right, or at any time after the right is granted, may impose such terms, restrictions, and limitations as to the use of streets and the construction and mode of operating the road as it deems to be for the public safety or welfare. 7805. The city governing body, in granting the right of way to a street railroad corporation, in addition to the restrictions which they are authorized to impose, shall require a strict compliance with the following conditions, except in the cases of prismoidal or other elevated railways: (a) The railway shall be constructed in such manner as will present the least obstruction to the freedom of the streets on which it is erected. (b) The tracks shall not be more than five feet wide within the rails, and shall have a space between them sufficient to allow the cars to pass each other freely. 7806. The legislative body of any city or city and county may permit two or more lines of street railway to use the same portion of the same street or the same tracks upon such terms as are agreed upon by the companies operating the railways, but no permission shall be granted to one company to use the same tracks or portions of the same street for more than five consecutive blocks, without the consent of the person or company occupying that portion of the street and then only upon payment of an equal portion of the cost of construction of the tracks and appurtenances used by the railways jointly. 7807. Where the portion of the street is occupied by a track or tracks of a different gauge from the track or tracks proposed to be constructed thereon by a line of street railway under a different management, the latter street railway may nevertheless construct its track or tracks, subject to the provisions of Section 7806, over the same ground as is occupied by the prior track or tracks, if they can be so constructed as not to interfere with the operation of the prior track or tracks beyond such necessary interference therewith as is incident to such construction with reasonable skill, care, and diligence. 7808. Any city or city and county may own and operate street railways within or without its corporate limits and may occupy the same street or tracks occupied or used by any street railway within its limits for any number of blocks, upon payment to the owner thereof of an equal portion of the estimated cost of construction, at the time of such occupation, of such tracks or appurtenances as the city or city and county elects to use jointly with the street railway. 7809. Any proposed railroad track may be permitted to cross any track already constructed, the crossing being made as provided in Chapter 1 of this division. In laying down the track and preparing therefor, not more than one block shall be obstructed at any one time, nor for a longer period than 10 working days. 7810. Street railway cars shall be of the most approved construction for the comfort and convenience of passengers, and provided with brakes to stop them, when required. A violation of this section subjects the corporation to a fine of two hundred dollars ($200) for each offense. 7811. Cities in or through which street railroads run may make such further regulations for the government of the street railroads as may be necessary to a full enjoyment of the franchise and the enforcement of the conditions provided herein. 7812. In every grant to construct street railroads, the right to grade, sewer, pave, macadamize, or otherwise improve, alter, or repair the streets or highways, is reserved to the city and cannot be alienated or impaired. The work shall be done so as to obstruct the railroad as little as possible, and if required, the street railway corporation shall shift its rails so as to avoid the obstructions made thereby. 7813. The right to lay down a track for grading purposes and to maintain it for a period not to exceed three years may be granted by the governing body of any city, city and county, or county, but no such track shall remain more than three years upon any one street. The track shall be laid level with the street, and shall be operated under such restrictions as not to interfere with the use of the street by the public. The governing body may grant the right to use steam or any other motive power in propelling the cars used on the grading track, when public convenience or utility demands it, but the reasons therefor shall be set forth in the ordinance, and the right to rescind the ordinance at any time reserved. 7814. Any corporation, or agent or employee thereof, demanding or charging a greater sum of money for fare on the cars of a street railroad than that fixed by law forfeits to the person from whom the sum is received, or who is thus overcharged, the sum of two hundred dollars ($200), to be recovered in a civil action against the corporation. 7815. Every street railroad corporation shall provide, and on request furnish to all persons desiring a passage on its cars, any required quantity of passenger tickets or checks, each to be good for one ride. Any corporation failing to provide and furnish tickets or checks to any person desiring to purchase them at the prescribed rate shall forfeit to such person the sum of two hundred dollars ($200), to be recovered as provided in Section 7814. The provisions of this section shall not apply to such street railroad corporations as charge but five cents ($0.05) fare. 7816. Upon the trial of an action for any of the sums forfeited, as provided in Sections 7814 or 7815, proof that the person demanding or receiving the money as fare, or for the sale of the ticket or check, was at the time of making the demand or receiving the money, engaged in an office of the corporation, or vehicle belonging to the corporation, shall be prima facie evidence that such person was the agent, servant, or employee of the corporation, to receive the money, and give the ticket or check mentioned. 7817. Any street railroad corporation operating cars on the streets of cities or on the county roads within the State for the conveyance of passengers, propelled by means of wire ropes attached to stationary engines, or by electricity or compressed air, who runs, operates, or uses any car or dummy, unless each car and dummy, while in use, is fitted with a brake capable of bringing the car to a stop within a reasonable distance, and a suitable fender, or appliance placed in front or attached to the trucks of the dummy, or car, for the purpose of removing and clearing the obstructions from the track, and preventing any obstacles, obstructions, or person on the track from getting under the dummy or car, and removing the same out of danger, and out of the way of the dummy or car, is guilty of a misdemeanor. Where the commission prescribes the fender or brake to be used, a compliance therewith constitutes a full compliance with this section. 7818. Any person operating or driving a street car who becomes or is intoxicated while so engaged in operating or driving such street car is guilty of a misdemeanor. Chapter 3. Telegraph Or Telephone Corporations
Ca Codes (puc:7901-7912) Public Utilities Code Section 7901-7912 7901. Telegraph or telephone corporations may construct lines of telegraph or telephone lines along and upon any public road or highway, along or across any of the waters or lands within this State, and may erect poles, posts, piers, or abutments for supporting the insulators, wires, and other necessary fixtures of their lines, in such manner and at such points as not to incommode the public use of the road or highway or interrupt the navigation of the waters. 7901.1. (a) It is the intent of the Legislature, consistent with Section 7901, that municipalities shall have the right to exercise reasonable control as to the time, place, and manner in which roads, highways, and waterways are accessed. (b) The control, to be reasonable, shall, at a minimum, be applied to all entities in an equivalent manner. (c) Nothing in this section shall add to or subtract from any existing authority with respect to the imposition of fees by municipalities. 7903. Every agent, operator, or employee of any telegraph or telephone office, who in any way uses or appropriates any information derived by him from any private message passing through his hands, and addressed to any other person, or in any other manner acquired by him by reason of his trust as such agent, operator, or employee, or trades or speculates upon any such information so obtained, or in any manner turns, or attempts to turn, the information so obtained to his own account, profit, or advantage, is punishable by imprisonment in the state prison, or by imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding one year, or by fine not exceeding ten thousand dollars ($10,000), or by both such fine and imprisonment. 7903. Every agent, operator, or employee of any telegraph or telephone office, who in any way uses or appropriates any information derived by him from any private message passing through his hands, and addressed to any other person, or in any other manner acquired by him by reason of his trust as such agent, operator, or employee, or trades or speculates upon any such information so obtained, or in any manner turns, or attempts to turn, the information so obtained to his own account, profit, or advantage, is punishable by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 of the Penal Code, or by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year, or by fine not exceeding ten thousand dollars ($10,000), or by both that fine and imprisonment. 7904. Every agent, operator, or employee of any telegraph or telephone office, who wilfully refuses or neglects to send any message received at such office for transmission, or wilfully postpones the transmission of the message out of its order, or wilfully refuses or neglects to deliver any message received by telegraph or telephone, is guilty of a misdemeanor. Nothing in this section shall be construed to require any message to be received, transmitted or delivered, unless the charges thereon have been paid or tendered, nor to require the sending, receiving, or delivery of any message counseling, aiding, abetting, or encouraging treason against the Government of the United States or of this State, or other resistance to the lawful authority, or any message calculated to further any fraudulent plan or purpose, or to instigate or encourage the perpetration of any unlawful act, or to facilitate the escape of any criminal or person accused of crime. 7905. The Public Utilities Commission shall issue regulations requiring every telephone corporation subject to its jurisdiction to maintain complete records of all instances in which its employees discover any device installed for the purpose of overhearing communications over the lines of such corporation and all instances in which such employees reasonably believe and report to the corporation their belief that such device is installed or has been installed but has since been removed. 7906. The Public Utilities Commission shall regularly make inquiry of every telephone corporation under its jurisdiction to determine whether or not such corporation is taking adequate steps to insure the privacy of communications over such corporation's telephone communication system. 7907. Notwithstanding Section 591, 631, or 632 of the Penal Code or Section 7906 of this code, whenever the supervising law enforcement official having jurisdiction has probable cause to believe that a person is holding hostages and is committing a crime, or is barricaded and is resisting apprehension through the use or threatened use of force, such official may order a previously designated telephone corporation security employee to arrange to cut, reroute, or divert telephone lines for the purpose of preventing telephone communication by such suspected person with any person other than a peace officer or a person authorized by the peace officer. The telephone corporation shall designate a person as its security employee and an alternate to provide all required assistance to law enforcement officials to carry out the purposes of this section. Good faith reliance on an order by a supervising law enforcement official shall constitute a complete defense to any action brought under this section. 7910. (a) Telephone corporations, holders of a state franchise pursuant to Division 2.5 (commencing with Section 5800), and a video provider, as defined in Section 53088.1 of the Government Code, shall perform background checks of applicants for employment, according to usual business practices. (b) A background check equivalent to that performed by the contracting telephone corporation, a holder of a state franchise pursuant to Division 2.5 (commencing with Section 5800), and a video provider, as defined in Section 53088.1 of the Government Code, shall also be conducted on all of the following: (1) Persons hired by a contracting entity under a personal services contract. (2) Independent contractors and their employees. (3) Vendors and their employees. (c) Independent contractors and vendors shall certify that they have obtained the background checks required pursuant to subdivision (b), and shall make the background checks available to the contracting entity upon request. (d) Except as otherwise provided by contract, the telephone corporation, a holder of a state franchise pursuant to Division 2.5 (commencing with Section 5800), and a video provider, as defined in Section 53088.1 of the Government Code, shall not be responsible for administering the background checks and shall not assume the cost of the background checks of individuals who are not applicants for employment of the contracting entity. (e) (1) An individual shall not, on behalf of a telephone corporation, holder of a state franchise pursuant to Division 2.5 (commencing with Section 5800), or video provider, as defined in Section 53088.1 of the Government Code, enter upon the premises of any individual unless he or she has had the background check required by subdivisions (a) and (b). (2) Subdivision (a) applies to applicants for employment for positions that would allow the applicant to have direct contact with or access to the company's network or central office and would require the applicant to perform activities that involve the installation, service, or repair of the company's network or equipment. (3) Subdivision (b) applies to any person that has direct contact with or access to the company's network or central office and performs activities that involve the installation, service, or repair of the company's network or equipment. (f) This section does not apply to temporary workers performing emergency functions to restore the network of a telephone corporation to its normal state in the event of a natural disaster or an emergency that threatens or results in the loss of service. (g) The provisions of this section apply only to applicants for employment who apply for employment on and after January 1, 2009, and to contracts entered into on or after January 1, 2009. 7912. (a) A public utility employing more than 750 total employees shall annually report to the commission all of the following: (1) The number of customers served in California by the public utility. (2) The percentage of the public utility's total domestic customer base that resides in California. (3) The number of California residents employed by the public utility, calculated on a full-time or full-time equivalent basis. (4) The percentage of the public utility's total domestic workforce, calculated on a full-time or full-time equivalent basis, that resides in California. (5) The capital investment in the public utility's tangible and intangible plant which ordinarily have a service life of more than one year, including plant used by the company or others in providing public utility services, in California during the yearly reporting period. (6) The number of California residents employed by independent contractors and consultants hired by the public utility, calculated on a full-time or full-time equivalent basis, when the public utility has obtained this information upon requesting it from the independent contractor or consultant, and the public utility is not contractually prohibited from disclosing the information to the public. This subdivision is inapplicable to contractors and consultants that are a public utility subject to the reporting requirements of this section. This paragraph applies only to those employees of an independent contractor or consultant that are personally providing services to the public utility, and does not apply to employees of an independent contractor or consultant not personally performing services for the public utility. (b) The commission shall annually report the information required to be reported by public utilities pursuant to subdivision (a), to the Assembly Committee on Utilities and Commerce and the Senate Committee on Energy, Utilities and Communications, or their successor committees, and within a reasonable time thereafter, shall make the information available to the public on its Internet Web site. Chapter 3.5. New Area Codes
Ca Codes (puc:7930-7943) Public Utilities Code Section 7930-7943 7930. The Legislature finds and declares all of the following: (a) The explosive demand for new area codes in California requires more area codes to be established than was envisioned when this chapter and Section 2887 were enacted in 1990. (b) Because of the advent of competition in the local telecommunications market, and a decision by the Federal Communications Commission, new area codes are established by the North American Numbering Plan Administrator in conjunction with the commission and members of the telecommunications industry. (c) In order to eliminate potential confusion for all the parties involved in the process of establishing new area codes, the changes to this chapter enacted in the 1997-98 Regular Session include identifying "providers" in Section 7931. (d) The "providers" specified in Section 7931 include telephone corporations and resellers that are regulated by the commission, and paging companies that are not regulated by the commission. It is necessary to include all of these entities within the term "providers" in order to effectively meet the needs of the state as they relate to the establishment of new area codes. The Legislature does not, however, by including paging companies as "providers" in Section 7931, intend to expand the jurisdiction of the commission over paging companies beyond the requirements of this chapter. The Legislature continues to recognize the status of paging companies as unregulated entities. 7931. (a) This chapter is applicable to telephone corporations, including resellers, and to paging companies, hereafter referred to as providers. (b) For purposes of this chapter, "coordinator" means the "coordinator for California area code relief" as designated by the North American Numbering Council. (c) Whenever the coordinator and providers evaluate the potential boundaries of a new area code, they shall consider rate area boundaries, municipal boundaries, communities of interest, and other appropriate criteria. (d) When the coordinator determines the need to establish a new area code, at least 30 months prior to the projected opening of the new area code, the coordinator shall provide written notice to the commission regarding the need to establish the new area code. (e) From the date the written notice required by subdivision (d) is received by the commission all of the following shall be done: (1) Within three months all providers shall notify all affected customers in writing of the need to establish a new area code. Nothing in this paragraph requires a customer to receive in one bill more than one notice for each billed number. (2) Within nine months the coordinator and the commission staff shall conduct at least one meeting for representatives of local jurisdictions to inform them of the proposed area code relief options, and to afford them the opportunity to discuss the potential impact of the proposed options. Following the local jurisdiction meeting, the coordinator and the commission staff shall conduct at least three public meetings in the affected geographical area. The public meetings are to inform members of the public about the proposed area code relief options, and to afford affected customers an opportunity to discuss the potential impact of the proposed area code relief options and measures that may be taken to mitigate any potential disruptions. The commission may order additional public meetings to be held at any time. (3) Within 11 months the coordinator shall file the results of the area code relief planning process with the commission requesting commission approval to implement a plan. Anyone may contest the results of the area code planning process by filing a written protest with the commission not later than 60 days after the results have been filed with the commission. (f) Unless the commission determines otherwise, at least 12 months prior to the date adopted by the commission for opening the new area code, all of the following shall be done: (1) The coordinator shall notify the general public of the specific geographic area to be included in both the old and new area codes. The notice shall include the schedule for any transitional dialing periods required by Section 7932. (2) Each telephone provider serving the specific geographic area included in the existing area code shall give written notice to all its affected customers about the specific geographic area that will be included in the new area code. The notice shall include the schedule for any transitional dialing periods required by Section 7932, and the prefixes that will be contained in the new area code. Nothing in this paragraph requires a customer to receive in one bill more than one notice for each billed telephone number. (g) Within three months prior to the adopted date for opening the new area code, each provider serving the existing area code shall give written notice to its affected customers of the specific geographic boundaries of the new area code. The notice shall include the schedule for any transitional periods required by Section 7932, and the prefixes that will be contained in the new area code. Nothing in this paragraph requires a customer to receive in one bill more than one notice for each billed number. 7932. (a) Whenever a provider opens a new area code, it shall do all of the following: (1) If the new area code plan permits seven-digit dialing, provide for a transitional dialing period during which a number in the new area code, or a number in the existing area code, may be reached by dialing either the seven-digit called number, or the area code plus the seven-digit called number. (2) Subsequent to the transitional dialing period provided in paragraph (1), if prefix codes are available, permit callers to reach a recorded announcement, without charge, that will inform the caller of the new area code when the existing area code is dialed. (3) If the new area code plan requires 10-digit dialing within an area code, provide for any transitional dialing period or recorded announcements the commission may order. (b) Paragraphs (1) and (2) of subdivision (a) shall no longer be operative if an authorized federal or state agency orders mandatory 10-digit dialing. 7933. The rate structure of any call originating in or made to an area code shall not change with the split of an area code into two or more area codes, regardless of the number of digits dialed. 7934. The Legislature finds and declares all of the following: (a) The number of area codes in this state has more than doubled since 1991. (b) The proliferation of area codes has caused undue hardship on citizens of this state, who have begun to be forced into new area codes after years of having the same telephone number. (c) That proliferation has substantially increased costs to businesses, individuals, and government agencies. (d) New area codes require the replacement of business cards and letterhead stationery, and companies must use employee time contacting their customers to ensure that those customers are able to continue to reach the affected company. (e) The proliferation of area codes has also reduced worker productivity as employees begin using new and unfamiliar area codes. (f) It is the policy of the Legislature that existing area codes should be preserved for as long as possible. (g) It is the further policy of the Legislature that the hardship currently experienced by telecommunications customers as a result of the creation of new area codes should be alleviated. (h) For all of the reasons stated above, it is necessary for the commission, as a public agency, to take all possible measures to protect area codes as a public resource, stop area code proliferation, and review their existing practice of establishing new area code regions and the creation of area code overlays. 7935. (a) The commission shall develop and implement any measures it determines to be available for telephone corporations that possess prefixes to efficiently allocate telephone numbers within those prefixes. The commission shall consider the cost effectiveness of these measures before requiring implementation. Among the measures the commission shall consider are rate center consolidation, allocation of numbers in blocks smaller than 10,000, and unassigned number porting. (b) For the purpose of this section, in accordance with the North American Numbering Plan, a telephone number consists of a three digit area code or number plan area (NPA), a three digit prefix or NXX code, and a four digit line number. 7936. The commission shall direct the North American Numbering Plan Administrator to obtain utilization data for any area code for which a relief plan is proposed, prior to adopting a plan for, or setting a date for, relief. 7937. (a) On or before March 1, 2000, the commission shall request from each telephone corporation doing business in this state that possesses one or more telephone number prefixes, or a portion thereof, the specific telephone numbers and the quantities within the possession of the provider, both in use and not in use. The commission, for the purpose of this section, shall define the terms "in use" and "not in use." The commission shall determine the reporting requirements for the information provided to the commission pursuant to Section 7940. (b) Notwithstanding Section 7550.5 of the Government Code, the commission shall use the information obtained pursuant to subdivision (a) and any other information required by the commission, to prepare and submit to the Legislature, on or before, July 1, 2001, a study of telecommunications industry use rates. 7938. The commission shall require, as an interim measure until the commission develops procedures for number pooling or adopts utilization standards, that number assignments made by telephone corporations to their customers shall be made first from prefixes that are more than 25 percent in use. A telephone corporation may assign numbers from prefixes with less than 25 percent use only to the extent necessary, if numbers from prefixes that are more than 25 percent in use are not otherwise available. 7939. (a) If the commission or an authorized federal agency establishes a process to ensure that telephone numbers can be allocated in blocks smaller than 10,000, the commission shall require that a telephone corporation return to the North American Numbering Plan Administrator blocks of telephone numbers for reassignment, in a quantity determined by the commission. (b) The commission shall direct the North American Numbering Plan Administrator to seek the return of blocks of numbers smaller than 10,000 not in use. The commission, for purposes of this section, shall define "not in use." 7940. A telephone corporation doing business in this state that possesses one or more telephone number prefixes, or portions thereof, shall provide to the commission or its agent, upon request, use information pertaining to both those prefixes in use and those prefixes not in use, according to any schedule established by the commission. 7943. (a) It is the intent of the Legislature that when the commission has no reasonable alternative other than to create a new area code, that the commission do so in a way that creates the least inconvenience for customers. (b) The commission shall request that the Federal Communications Commission grant authority for the commission to order telephone corporations to assign telephone numbers dedicated to mobile telephony service and mobile data service, as defined in Section 224.4, to a separate area code and to permit seven digit dialing within that technology-specific area code and the underlying preexisting area code or codes. (c) Before approving any new area code, the commission shall first perform a telephone utilization study and implement all reasonable telephone number conservation measures. (d) If the commission receives the grant of authority set forth in subdivision (b) and determines that further area code relief is needed, the commission shall exercise the authority granted to it in subdivision (b) unless it finds at least one of the following: (1) Exercising the authority granted by subdivision (b) would be more disruptive to the customers where area code relief has been determined to be necessary. (2) Exercising the authority granted by subdivision (b) will not adequately extend the life of the area code where relief has been determined to be necessary. (e) The commission may not implement any authority granted by the Federal Communications Commission pursuant to subdivision (b), in a manner that impairs the ability of a customer to have number portability. Chapter 4. Injury To Public Utility Property
Ca Codes (puc:7951-7953) Public Utilities Code Section 7951-7953 7951. Any person who wilfully and maliciously does any injury to telegraph or telephone or electric power or gas property is liable to the corporation for three times the amount of actual damages sustained thereby, to be recovered in any court of competent jurisdiction. 7952. Any person who injures or destroys, through want of proper care, any necessary or useful facility or equipment of any telegraph, telephone, electrical, or gas corporation, is liable to the corporation for all damages sustained thereby. The measure of damages to the facility or equipment injured or destroyed shall be the cost to repair or replace the property injured or destroyed including direct and allocated costs for labor, materials, supervision, supplies, tools, taxes, transportation, administrative and general expense and other indirect or overhead expenses, less credit, if any, for salvage, as determined by such telegraph, telephone, electrical or gas corporations in conformity with a system of accounts established by the commission. The specifying of the measure of damages for the facility or equipment shall not preclude the recovery of such other damages occasioned thereby as may be authorized by law. Any vessel which, by dragging its anchor, or otherwise, breaks, injures or destroys any underwater cable of a telegraph, telephone or electrical corporation or pipeline of a gas corporation, subjects its owner to liability for the damages sustained thereby. 7953. No telegraph, telephone, electrical or gas corporation can recover damages for the breaking, injury or destruction of any underwater cable or gas pipeline, unless the corporation has previously placed a marker on the bank of the waters under which the cable or pipeline is placed, indicating the place where the cable or pipeline lies. Chapter 5. Electrical Line Construction
Ca Codes (puc:8001-8003) Public Utilities Code Section 8001-8003 8001. Unless the particular provisions or the context otherwise requires, the definitions and general provisions contained in this article shall govern the construction of this chapter. 8002. "Person" includes any commission, officer, agent, or employee of this State, or of any county, city, city and county, or other political subdivision thereof, and any other person, firm, or corporation. 8003. "Signal wires or cables" include telephone, telegraph, and other signal wires. Article 2. Surface Transmission
Ca Codes (puc:8026-8038) Public Utilities Code Section 8026-8038 8026. No person shall run, place, erect, or maintain any wire or cable used to conduct electricity, on any pole, or any crossarm, bracket, or other appliance attached to such pole, within a distance of 13 inches from the center line of the pole. This section does not apply to signal wires or cables which are attached to a pole to which is attached no wire or cable other than signal wires or cables, except within the corporate limits of a city, nor shall this section apply to such wires or cables where they are placed vertically on poles, nor to bridle or jumper wires on any pole which are attached to signal wires on the same pole, nor to any aerial cable, as between such cable and any pole on which it originates or terminates. Telephone toll lines may be exempt from the provisions of this section if proper evidence introduced before the commission proves to the satisfaction of the commission, that compliance would seriously interfere with long distance telephone transmission. This section does not apply to wires run from lead wires to arc or incandescent lamps nor to transformers placed upon poles, nor to any wire or cable where it is attached to the top of a pole, as between it and the pole, nor to any aerial cable containing signal wires where the cable is attached to a pole on which no other wires or cables than wires continuing from the cable are maintained if electric light or power wires or cables are not maintained on the same side of the street or highway on which the aerial cable is placed. 8027. No person shall run, place, erect, or maintain in the vicinity of any pole (and unattached thereto) within the distance of 13 inches from the center line of the pole, any wire or cable used to conduct electricity, or place, erect or maintain any pole (to which is attached any wire or cable used to conduct electricity) within the distance of 13 inches (measured from the center of such pole) from any wire or cable used to conduct or carry electricity. As between any wire or cable and any pole, only the wire, cable, or pole last in point of time run, placed, or erected, shall be held to be run, placed, erected, or maintained in violation of the provisions of this section. This section does not apply to signal wires, or cables on poles to which are attached no other wires, as between such wires and poles to which are attached no other wires or cables than signal wires if such wires, cables, and poles are not within the corporate limits of a city. Telephone toll lines may be exempt from this section if proper evidence introduced before the commission proves to the satisfaction of the commission, that compliance would seriously interfere with long distance telephone transmission. 8028. No person shall run, place, erect, or maintain, above ground, within four feet from any wire or cable conducting less than 600 volts of electricity, any wire or cable which conducts at any one time more than 600 volts of electricity, or run, place, erect, or maintain within four feet from any wire or cable which conducts at any one time more than 600 volts of electricity any wire or cable conducting or carrying less than 600 volts of electricity. This section does not apply to wires or cables attached to a transformer, arc or incandescent lamp within four feet (measured along the line of the wire or cable) from the point where such wire or cable is attached to such transformer, arc or incandescent lamp, nor to wires or cables within buildings or other structures, nor to wires or cables where they are placed vertically on poles, or to any lead wires or cables between the points where they are made to leave any pole for the purpose of entering any building or other structure and the point at which they are made to enter such building or structure. As between any two wires or cables, or any wire or any cable, run, placed, erected, or maintained in violation of this section, only the wire or cable last in point of time run, placed, or erected shall be held to be run, placed, erected, or maintained thus in violation of this section. Where no more than one crossarm is maintained on a pole, all the wires or cables conducting at any one time more than 600 volts of electricity shall be placed on the crossarm on one side of the pole, and all the wires or cables conducting less than 600 volts of electricity shall be placed on the crossarm on the other side of the pole. The space between any wire or cable conducting at any one time more than 600 volts of electricity and any wire or cable conducting less than that voltage shall be at least 36 inches clear measurement in a horizontal line. Where the provisions of this section cannot be complied with, the commission may grant permission for the following form of construction; where two or more systems for the distribution of electric light or power occupy the same poles with wires or cables, all wires or cables conducting at any one time more than 600 volts of electricity may be placed on the crossarms on one side of the pole, and all wires or cables conducting less than that voltage, shall in such case, be placed on the crossarms on the other side of the pole; the space between any wire or cable conducting at any one time more than 600 volts of electricity and any wire or cable conducting or carrying less than that voltage shall be at least 36 inches in measurement in a horizontal line; and in such construction all crossarms shall be at least 36 inches apart in a vertical line. 8029. No person shall run, place, erect, or maintain any wire or cable which conducts at any one time more than 600 volts of electricity, without causing each crossarm, or such other appliance as is used in lieu thereof, to which such wire or cable is attached to be kept at all times painted a bright yellow color, or, on such crossarm, or other appliance used in lieu thereof, shall be placed signs, providing, in white letters on a green background, not less than three (3) inches in height the words "high voltage" on the face and back of each crossarm. The provisions of this section do not apply to crossarms to which are attached wires or cables conducting more than 10,000 volts of electricity, and which are situated outside the corporate limits of a city. 8029.5. No person shall place, erect, or maintain on any pole any transformer, capacitor, or other electrical device containing polychlorinated biphenyls for transforming electric current, when the pole or transformer is required to be marked pursuant to applicable regulations of the United States Environmental Protection Agency, unless the person owning or controlling the pole on which the device is situated, upon request of any fire protection agency within the person's electrical service area, either marks the pole with a reflective band specified by the fire protection agency or furnishes to the fire protection agency the location of every pole within the fire protection agency on which such a device is located, at the person's option. 8030. No person shall run, place, erect, or maintain any guy wire or guy cable attached to any pole or appliance to which is attached any wire or cable used to conduct electricity, without causing the guy wire or guy cable to be effectively insulated at all times at a distance of not less than four (4) feet nor more than eight (8) feet (measured along the line of the wire or cable) from the upper end thereof, and at a point not less than eight (8) feet vertically above the ground from the lower end thereof. Where two or more guy wires or guy cables are attached to the same pole and same anchorage pole there shall be at least one foot, vertical space, between the points of attachment. No insulation shall be required at the lower end of a guy wire or guy cable where it is attached to a grounded anchor. Where guy wires or guy cables are attached to a pole or structure of steel or other conducting material supporting wires or cables conducting in excess of 15,000 volts where the pole or structure is thoroughly grounded no insulation shall be required at any point in the guy wire or guy cable. This section does not apply to guy wires or guy cables attached to poles carrying no wire or cable other than signal wires or cables and which are situated outside the corporate limits of a city. 8031. No person shall run, place, erect, or maintain vertically on any pole any wire or cable used to conduct electricity, without causing such wire or cable to be at all times wholly incased in a casing equal in durability and insulating efficiency to a wooded casing not less than one and one-half inches thick. This section does not apply to vertical signal wires or cables on poles where no other such wires or cables are maintained, and which are outside the corporate limits of a city, nor to wires or cables run vertically on iron poles or structures where both pole or structure and conduit are securely grounded. 8032. No person shall place, erect, or maintain on any pole, or any crossarm or other appliance on the pole, which carries or upon which is placed an electric arc lamp, any transformer for transforming electric currents. This section shall not apply if the arc lamp is suspended so that it can be trimmed from the ground or from a stand located on the pole not less than seven feet below the transformer, and in so suspending the arc lamp no wire or cable in connection therewith is run vertically on the pole unless the wire or cable is protected as provided for in Section 8031. 8033. No person shall run, place, erect, or maintain any wire or cable carrying more than 15,000 volts of electricity across any wire or cable carrying less than that voltage or across any public highway, except on a pole of such height and so placed at each crossing that under no circumstances can the wire or cable of a voltage higher than 15,000 volts in case of breakage thereof or otherwise, come in contact with any wire or cable of less than that voltage, or fall within a distance of ten (10) feet from the surface of any public highway; or in lieu thereof double strength construction may be installed, in which case the wires carrying a voltage higher than 15,000 volts shall, between the points of crossing, be of a cross-section area equal to at least twice that used in the line outside of such crossing, except where the conductor used is equal to number four (4) stranded Brown and Sharpe gauge or greater, in which case the wires or cables will be considered as complying with the law. 8034. No person shall run, place, erect, or maintain any suspension wire to which is attached any aerial cable of 75 pair No. 19 Brown and Sharpe gauge or over, or of 100 pair No. 22 Brown and Sharpe gauge or over suspended from a crossarm, or from any other structure or appliance from which the suspension wire is hung, by a single bolt and clamp without at the same time attaching the suspension wire to the crossarms, structure, or appliance by an additional safety bolt and clamp, or other safety appliance for thus attaching the suspension wire of tensile strength equal to the first bolt and clamp. 8035. None of the provisions of Sections 8026 to 8034, inclusive, apply to direct current electric wires or cables having the same polarity, nor to signal wires when no more than two (2) of such signal wires are attached to any one pole, but no such direct current or signal wires shall in any case be run, placed, erected, or maintained within the distance of thirteen (13) inches from the center line of any pole other than the pole or poles on which the wires or cables are carried, carrying electric wires or cables. As between any two wires, or cables, or any wire or cable run, placed, erected, or maintained in violation of this section, only the wire or cable last in point of time run, placed, erected, or maintained shall be held to be run, placed, erected, or maintained thus in violation of this section. 8036. No person shall run, place, erect, or maintain any span wire attached to any wire or cable used to conduct electricity, without causing the span wire to be at all times effectively insulated between the outer point at which it is in any case fastened to the pole or other structure by which it is hung or supported, and at the point at which it is in any case thus attached. Such insulation shall not in any case be placed less than two (2) feet or more than four (4) feet from the point at which the span wire is so attached. When in any case such span wire is attached along its length to any two (2) such wires or cables, conducting electricity and extending parallel to each other, not more than eighteen (18) feet apart, such insulation shall not be required therein at any point between such parallel wires or cables. This section does not apply where feeder wires are used in place of span wires. 8037. The commission may grant such additional time and shall inspect all work which is included in the provisions of this article, and may make such further additions or changes as the commission deems necessary for the purpose of safety to employees and the general public. The commission shall enforce the provisions of this article. 8038. Any violation of any provision of this article is a misdemeanor. Article 3. Underground Transmission
Ca Codes (puc:8051-8057) Public Utilities Code Section 8051-8057 8051. No person shall build or rebuild any subway, manhole, chamber, or underground room used or to be used to contain, encase, cover, or conduct any wire, cable, or appliance, to conduct or handle electricity, unless such subway, manhole, chamber, or underground room has an inside measurement of not less than four feet at the maximum points between the side walls thereof, and between the end walls thereof, and not less than five feet at all points between the floor and the top or ceiling thereof, or if circular in shape, at least four feet diameter inside measurement and not less than five feet at all points between the floor and ceiling thereof. This section does not apply to any such subway, manhole, chamber, or underground room, within which it is not intended or required that any human being perform work or labor or be employed. This section does not apply where satisfactory proof is submitted to the commission that it is impracticable or physically impossible to comply with this law within the space or location so designated by the proper municipal authorities. 8052. No person shall build or rebuild in any subway, manhole, chamber, or underground room used or to be used to contain, encase, cover, or conduct any wire, cable, or appliance to conduct or handle electricity, any opening to outer air which is less than 26 inches if circular in shape, or less than 24 inches by 26 inches clear measurement if rectangular in shape. 8053. No person shall build or rebuild in any subway, manhole, chamber, or underground room, used or to be used to contain, encase, cover, or conduct any wire, cable, or appliance to conduct or handle electricity, any opening which is at the surface of the ground, within the distance of three feet at any point from the rail of any railway or streetcar track. This section does not apply where satisfactory proof is submitted to the commission that it is impracticable or physically impossible to comply with this law in the space or location so designated by the proper municipal authorities. 8054. No person shall build or rebuild any subway, manhole, chamber, or underground room, used or to be used, to contain, encase, cover, or conduct any wire, cable, or appliance to conduct or handle electricity unless the floor of the subway, manhole, chamber, or underground room is made of stone, concrete, brick, or other similar material not subject to decomposition. This section does not apply to any subway, manhole, chamber, or underground room within which it is not intended or required that any human being perform work or labor or be employed. 8055. No person shall build or rebuild or maintain any subway, manhole, chamber, or underground room used, or to be used, to contain, encase, cover, or conduct any wire, cable, or appliance to conduct or handle electricity, unless such subway, manhole, chamber, or underground room is kept at all times in a sanitary condition and free from stagnant water, seepage, or other drainage, or any offensive matter dangerous to health, either by sewer connection or otherwise. This section does not apply to any subway, manhole, chamber, or underground room within which it is not intended or required that any human being perform work or labor, or be employed. 8056. The commission may inspect all work which is included in the provisions of this article, and may make such further additions or changes as the commission deems necessary for the purpose of safety to employees and the general public. The commission shall enforce the provisions of this article. 8057. Any violation of any provision of this article is a misdemeanor. Chapter 6. Electric Service Areas
Article 1. Designation By Public Utilities Commission
Ca Codes (puc:8101-8108) Public Utilities Code Section 8101-8108 8101. Under certain conditions the sale and distribution of electric power and energy in the same geographical area both by an electrical utility and by an irrigation district, results in duplication of service, waste of materials, increase in costs, waste of manpower and economic loss, and is detrimental to the efficiency and best interests of such districts. It is the policy of this State to induce such utilities and irrigation districts to prevent or remove such economic waste and to adopt more efficient and economic methods of distribution of electric power and energy, and to that end encourage the definition of areas to be served or not to be served by each. 8102. Any utility may petition the commission setting forth in its petition the following: (a) That the petitioner and an irrigation district formed under the laws of this State are both engaged or propose to engage in the sale and distribution of electric power and energy in the described area or areas or in contiguous areas, or that the petitioner proposes to sell an electric distribution system in a described area, to such irrigation district. (b) That the petitioner and irrigation district are desirous of entering into a contract in which, among other things, and as one of the considerations therefor, they consent to the limitation of areas which each are to serve or are to be excluded from serving. (c) A copy of the contract or proposed contract. (d) A description of the respective areas that the limitations will affect and the terms of the contract, if any, or the conditions, if any, existing in connection with such limitations or the sale or acquisition of a utility distribution system. (e) A prayer that the commission issue its order limiting the area or areas within which the petitioner may, directly or indirectly, sell or distribute electric power or energy or define the area or areas within which the petitioner shall not sell or distribute electric power or energy as indicated in the petition and set forth in a contract or proposed contract. 8103. Thereupon, the commission shall cause an investigation to be made and may conduct such hearings in connection therewith as it considers desirable. 8104. If the commission finds that it is for the best interests of the State and of the utility, and not incompatible with any public interest that the petition be granted, it shall make and issue its order limiting the area or areas within which the utility shall have the right and authority to sell or distribute electric power or energy, directly or indirectly, or define the area or areas within which the utility shall not have the right or authority to sell or distribute electric power or energy, directly or indirectly. The commission may, in its order, approve and thereby authorize the contract or conditions, if any, in connection therewith. No limitation or definition of area or areas or statement of conditions shall be included in the order except as contained in the petition and contract. 8106. Where limitation of areas to be served or limitations or designations of areas not to be served by the utility and by an irrigation district have heretofore been approved or are hereafter approved by the commission they shall be deemed to have complied with this article. 8107. In any civil or criminal action or proceeding for violation of the Cartwright Act (Chapter 530, Statues of 1907), Part 2 of Division 7 of the Business and Professions Code, or any rule of statutory or common law against monopolies or combinations in restraint of trade, proof that the act complained of was done in compliance with this article or an order issued under it and in furtherance of the purposes and provisions of this article is a complete defense in such action or proceeding. 8108. If, in any contract submitted and approved by the commission or in any order made by the commission pursuant to application and petition as in this article provided, it is provided that the utility is not to serve or furnish electric energy in a specified area or areas, or is to furnish or serve electric energy under limited or specified circumstances only, or is to refrain from serving or furnishing electric energy in certain specified areas or under certain specified circumstances or under certain specified limitations, then, from and after the effective date of such order of the commission, it shall be unlawful for the utility to serve electric energy in any area or in any manner which the contract and order provides that service shall not be rendered, and the affected district shall be entitled, as a matter of right, to an injunction to prevent any such unlawful act on the part of the utility. Chapter 7. Miscellaneous Regulations
Article 1. Adequate Water Service
Ca Codes (puc:8201-8204) Public Utilities Code Section 8201-8204 8201. Any water company having a franchise to use the streets of a city, shall properly and adequately serve with water the inhabitants of the territory for the service of which it has such franchise. As used in this section, to "properly and adequately serve with water" includes furnishing water of a quality meeting or exceeding standards established by the State Department of Health pursuant to Section 4026 of the Health and Safety Code. 8202. If the commission has jurisdiction of extensions and service in the city it shall enforce a compliance with Section 8201. If the commission does not have such jurisdiction, then the governing body of the city shall adopt rules to enforce a compliance with Section 8201. 8203. In addition to the penalties which may be provided by the governing body of a city for failure to comply with such regulations adopted by it, any person aggrieved by the failure of any water company to comply with such regulations may recover, by civil action against such water company, twice the amount of damages he may sustain by reason of such failure. 8204. "Water company" as used in this article, includes any person, firm, or private corporation engaged in the business of supplying water for domestic use within any city. Article 2. Railroad And Steamboat Police
Ca Codes (puc:8226-8227) Public Utilities Code Section 8226-8227 8226. The Governor of the state may, upon the application of any railroad company, appoint and commission during his or her pleasure one or more persons designated by the company, to serve at the expense of the company, as police officers, who shall have the powers and authority of peace officers listed in Section 830.33 of the Penal Code, after being duly sworn. The company designating these persons shall be responsible civilly for any abuse of their authority. 8227. Every peace officer designated under Section 8226 shall, when in uniform, wear in plain view a shield bearing the words "railroad police," and the name of the company for which he or she is commissioned. When on duty, but not in uniform, the peace officer shall carry the shield upon his or her person and present it upon request. Article 3. Use Of "spotter" Reports
Article 4. Retirement Fund Investment Losses
Ca Codes (puc:8276-8279) Public Utilities Code Section 8276-8279 8276. The commission shall prohibit any public utility that has any retirement funds invested in the government of Libya, or in any corporation based in that country, from including in its plant operating budget any losses incurred as a result of those investments. 8277. The commission shall require every public utility to provide the commission with a list of its retirement fund investments in the government of Libya, or in any corporation based in that country. 8278. The commission shall verify the accuracy of the information provided pursuant to Section 8277, and shall disallow any losses incurred as a result of investments in the government of Libya, or in any corporation based in that country, in establishing rates for the public utility. 8279. This article does not prevent the commission from applying this article to public utility retirement fund investments in other countries such as, but not limited to, Libya, if comparable conditions warrant that application. Article 5. Women, Minority, And Disabled Veteran Business Enterprises
Ca Codes (puc:8281-8286) Public Utilities Code Section 8281-8286 8281. (a) The Legislature hereby finds and declares that the essence of the American economic system of private enterprise is free, open, and transparent competition. Only through free, open, and transparent competition can free markets, reasonable and just prices, free entry into business, and opportunities for the expression and growth of personal initiative and individual judgment be ensured. The preservation and expansion of that competition are basic to the economic well-being of this state and that well-being cannot be realized unless the actual and potential capacity of women, minority, and disabled veteran business enterprises is encouraged and developed. Therefore, it is the declared policy of the state to aid the interests of women, minority, and disabled veteran business enterprises in order to preserve reasonable and just prices and a free competitive enterprise, to ensure that a fair proportion of the total purchases and contracts or subcontracts for commodities, supplies, technology, property, and services for regulated public utilities, including, but not limited to, renewable energy, wireless telecommunications, broadband, smart grid, and rail projects, are awarded to women, minority, and disabled veteran business enterprises, and to maintain and strengthen the overall economy of the state. (b) (1) The Legislature finds all of the following: (A) The opportunity for full participation in our free enterprise system by women, minority, and disabled veteran business enterprises is essential if this state is to attain social and economic equality for those businesses and improve the functioning of the state economy. (B) Public agencies and some regulated utilities that have established short- and long-range women, minority, and disabled veteran business enterprise goals are awarding 30 percent or more of their contracts to these business enterprises. (C) Women, minority, and disabled veteran business enterprises have traditionally received less than a proportionate share of regulated public utility procurement contracts, especially in renewable energy, wireless telecommunications, broadband, smart grid, and rail projects. (D) It is in the state's interest to expeditiously improve the economically disadvantaged position of women, minority, and disabled veteran business enterprises. (E) The position of these businesses can be substantially improved by providing long-range substantial goals for procurement by regulated public utilities of technology, equipment, supplies, services, materials, and construction work, especially in renewable energy, wireless telecommunications, broadband, smart grid, and rail projects, from women, minority, and disabled veteran businesses. (F) That procurement also benefits the regulated public utilities and consumers of the state by encouraging the expansion of the number of suppliers for procurements, thereby encouraging competition among the suppliers and promoting economic efficiency in the process. (G) That the long-term economic viability of this state depends substantially upon the ability of renewable energy, wireless telecommunications, broadband, smart grid, and rail projects to incorporate women, minority, and disabled veteran businesses into those projects. (2) It is the purpose of this article to do all of the following: (A) Encourage greater economic opportunity for women, minority, and disabled veteran business enterprises. (B) Promote competition among regulated public utility suppliers in order to enhance economic efficiency in the procurement of electrical, gas, water, wireless telecommunications service provider, and telephone corporation contracts and contracts of their commission-regulated subsidiaries and affiliates. (C) Clarify and expand the program for the procurement by regulated public utilities of technology, equipment, supplies, services, materials, and construction work from women, minority, and disabled veteran business enterprises. 8282. For the purposes of this article, the following definitions apply: (a) "Women business enterprise" means a business enterprise that is at least 51 percent owned by a woman or women; or, in the case of any publicly owned business, at least 51 percent of the stock of which is owned by one or more women; and whose management and daily business operations are controlled by one or more of those individuals. (b) "Minority business enterprise" means a business enterprise that is at least 51 percent owned by a minority group or groups; or, in the case of any publicly owned business, at least 51 percent of the stock of which is owned by one or more minority groups, and whose management and daily business operations are controlled by one or more of those individuals. The contracting utility shall presume that minority includes Black Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans, and Asian Pacific Americans. (c) "Disabled veteran business enterprise" has the same meaning as defined in subdivision (g) of Section 999 of the Military and Veterans Code. (d) "Control" means exercising the power to make policy decisions. (e) "Operate" means being actively involved in the day-to-day management and not merely officers or directors. 8283. (a) The commission shall require each electrical, gas, water, wireless telecommunications service provider, and telephone corporation with gross annual revenues exceeding twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000) and their commission-regulated subsidiaries and affiliates, to submit annually, a detailed and verifiable plan for increasing procurement from women, minority, and disabled veteran business enterprises in all categories, including, but not limited to, renewable energy, wireless telecommunications, broadband, smart grid, and rail projects. (b) These annual plans shall include short- and long-term goals and timetables, but not quotas, and shall include methods for encouraging both prime contractors and grantees to engage women, minority, and disabled veteran business enterprises in subcontracts in all categories that provide subcontracting opportunities, including, but not limited to, renewable energy, wireless telecommunications, broadband, smart grid, and rail projects. (c) The commission shall establish guidelines for all electrical, gas, water, wireless telecommunications service provider, and telephone corporations with gross annual revenues exceeding twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000) and their commission-regulated subsidiaries and affiliates, to be utilized in establishing programs pursuant to this article. (d) Every electrical, gas, water, wireless telecommunications service provider, and telephone corporation with gross annual revenues exceeding twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000) shall furnish an annual report to the commission regarding the implementation of programs established pursuant to this article in a form that the commission shall require, and at the time that the commission shall annually designate. (e) (1) The commission shall provide a report to the Legislature on September 1 of each year, on the progress of activities undertaken by each electrical, gas, water, wireless telecommunications service provider, and telephone corporation with gross annual revenues exceeding twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000) pursuant to this article in the implementation of women, minority, and disabled veterans business enterprise development programs. The report shall include information about which procurements are made with women, minority, and disabled veteran business enterprises with at least a majority of the enterprise's workforce in California, to the extent that information is readily accessible. The commission shall recommend a program for carrying out the policy declared in this article, together with recommendations for legislation that it deems necessary or desirable to further that policy. (2) In regard to disabled veteran business enterprises, the commission shall ensure that the programs and legislation recommended pursuant to paragraph (1) are consistent with the disabled veteran business enterprise certification eligibility requirements imposed by the Department of General Services and that the recommendations include only those disabled veteran business enterprises certified by the Department of General Services. (f) The Legislature declares that each electrical, gas, water, wireless telecommunications service provider, and telephone corporation that is not required to submit a plan pursuant to subdivision (a) is encouraged to voluntarily adopt a plan for increasing women, minority, and disabled veteran business enterprise procurement in all categories. 8284. (a) (1) The commission shall, by rule or order, adopt criteria for verifying and determining the eligibility of women and minority business enterprises for procurement contracts. (2) The commission shall adopt the Department of General Services' disabled veteran business enterprise certification eligibility requirements for verifying and determining the eligibility of disabled veteran business enterprises for procurement contracts, and shall not deem eligible those disabled veteran business enterprises that are not certified by the Department of General Services. (b) The commission shall develop, and require every electrical, gas, water, wireless telecommunications service provider, and telephone corporation with gross annual revenues exceeding twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000) and their commission-regulated subsidiaries and affiliates to implement, an outreach program to inform and recruit women, minority, and disabled veteran business enterprises to apply for procurement contracts under this article. 8285. (a) Any person or corporation, through its directors, officers, or agents, which falsely represents a business as a women or minority business enterprise in the procurement of, or the attempt to procure, contracts from an electrical, gas, water, wireless telecommunications service provider, or telephone corporation with gross annual revenues exceeding twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000), or a commission-regulated subsidiary or affiliate subject to this article, shall be punished by a fine of not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000), by imprisonment in a county jail for not more than one year or in the state prison, or by both that fine and imprisonment. In the case of a corporation, the fine or imprisonment, or both, shall be imposed on every director, officer, or agent responsible for the false statements. (b) Any person or corporation, through its directors, officers, or agents, which falsely represents a business as a disabled veteran business enterprise in the procurement of, or the attempt to procure, contracts from an electrical, gas, water, wireless telecommunications service provider, or telephone corporation with gross annual revenues exceeding twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000), or a commission-regulated subsidiary or affiliate subject to this article, shall be punished according to the penalties established pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 999.9 of the Military and Veterans Code. In the case of a corporation, the fine or imprisonment, or both, shall be imposed on every director, officer, or agent responsible for the false statements. 8286. (a) In order to facilitate the participation of women-owned businesses, minority-owned businesses, disabled veteran-owned businesses, and small businesses in contract procurement, any corporation subject to this article may consider the following measures to include those businesses in all phases of their contracting: (1) Timely or progressive payments to those businesses. (2) An amendment of the performance bond requirements so that bond requirements of electrical, gas, and telephone corporations do not prohibitively burden those businesses from procuring the corporation' s business. (3) The provision of assistance to those businesses by securing contract payments to those businesses with letters of credit, negotiable securities, or other financing arrangements or measures. (b) This section does not restrict a corporation's ability to require a bond.
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