reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
MN Stat § 219.30 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 218 - 222 — Carriers|Chapter 219 — Railroad Safety And Employment|Section 219.30 — Injuring, Destroying Sign.

219.30 INJURING, DESTROYING SIGN. It is unlawful for a person to maliciously injure, remove, displace, deface, or destroy the signs or signals provided for in sections 219.16 to 219.30. History:  (4743-16) 1925 c 336 s 16; 1985 c 265 art 4 s 1
MN Stat § 219.31 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 218 - 222 — Carriers|Chapter 219 — Railroad Safety And Employment|Section 219.31 — Building Fence And Cattle Guard.

219.31 BUILDING FENCE AND CATTLE GUARD. Subdivision 1. Duty. Every railroad company shall build and maintain good and substantial fences on each side of all lines of its railroad, and good and sufficient cattle guards at all road and street crossings and other openings, except at station and depot grounds, and other places which the necessary business of the road or public convenience requires to be open. When a person's land lying along a railroad right-of-way is enclosed on three sides by a woven wire fence, the railroad company shall erect and maintain a woven wire fence of like character and quality along the right-of-way enclosing the remaining side of the land. Subd. 2. Standard of care. The railroad company is held to the exercise of ordinary diligence and care in building and maintaining fences and cattle guards and in keeping cattle guards free from ice and snow. History:  (4744) RL s 1997; 1907 c 333; 1911 c 309 s 1; 1985 c 265 art 4 s 1
MN Stat § 219.32 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 218 - 222 — Carriers|Chapter 219 — Railroad Safety And Employment|Section 219.32 — Failure To Fence; Liability And Damages.

219.32 FAILURE TO FENCE; LIABILITY AND DAMAGES. A railroad company failing to comply with section 219.31 is liable for all resulting damages, including domestic animals killed or injured by its negligence. If it fails to pay the actual damages caused by the killing or injury within 30 days after the damage occurs, the plaintiff shall recover double costs. The company, before the commencement of an action, may make tender for the injury. If the amount recovered, exclusive of interest, does not exceed the tender, the plaintiff shall not recover costs or disbursements. History:  (4745) RL s 1998; 1983 c 359 s 21; 1985 c 265 art 4 s 1
MN Stat § 219.33 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 218 - 222 — Carriers|Chapter 219 — Railroad Safety And Employment|Section 219.33 — Fence, Crossing, Cattle Guard; Landowner Recourse.

219.33 FENCE, CROSSING, CATTLE GUARD; LANDOWNER RECOURSE. Subdivision 1. Liability. A railroad company operating a line of railroad in this state, which has failed or neglected to fence the road and to erect crossings and cattle guards, is liable for all damages sustained by a person as a consequence of that failure or neglect. Subd. 2. Measure of damages. The measure of damages for failure to construct or maintain a fence is as follows: the owner of land abutting on the line of railway of the railroad company may serve notice on any of its station agents between April 1 and October 1 of any year, requiring the construction of a fence on the line between the person's land and the company's right-of-way. If the company does not construct the fence within 40 days after service of the notice, the landowner may recover from the company an amount not exceeding twice the cost of construction, with costs and reasonable attorney's fee, to be allowed by the court, or the landowner may construct the fence after the expiration of that time and receive from the company double the cost of construction, with like costs and attorney's fee. Subd. 3. Duty to maintain. The fence must be kept in repair by the railroad company in like manner and under like penalties as if built by the company. Subd. 4. Failure to serve notice. Failure to serve notice does not relieve the railroad company from liability for damages for injuries to persons or domestic animals or other property, resulting from failure to fence its road. History:  (4746) RL s 1999; 1985 c 265 art 4 s 1
MN Stat § 219.34 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 218 - 222 — Carriers|Chapter 219 — Railroad Safety And Employment|Section 219.34 — Fence Between Railroad And Public Road.

219.34 FENCE BETWEEN RAILROAD AND PUBLIC ROAD. If a railroad company fails to fence its line where it adjoins a public road or street, or lies so near as to render travel on it dangerous, the governing body of the town or municipality having charge of the road or street, by notice as in the case of an abutting landowner, may require the fence to be built. In case of failure to build the fence within the time provided in section 219.33, the town or municipality has the rights and remedies given by section 219.33 to an abutting owner. History:  (4747) RL s 2000; 1985 c 265 art 4 s 1
MN Stat § 219.35 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 218 - 222 — Carriers|Chapter 219 — Railroad Safety And Employment|Section 219.35 — Crossing And Drain.

219.35 CROSSING AND DRAIN. Persons owning lands abutting upon a railroad may construct, at their own expense, crossings under, over, or across the railroad and drains under and across the railroad at places and in ways that do not obstruct or impair the use of the railroad. Before constructing them, the owner of the land shall serve on the nearest station agent of the company a notice, stating in detail the work which the landowner desires to perform, and the company may construct that work; but the crossings and drains may not be opened for the use of the landowner until the landowner pays the reasonable cost of construction. These crossings and drains must be maintained and kept in repair by the railroad company; however, the railroad may require reimbursement from the abutting landowners of its reasonable and accountable maintenance and repair costs when maintenance and repair are initiated by the landowner and agreed to in advance by the railroad company. The railroad company shall ensure, allow, and not prohibit reasonable egress and ingress under, over, and across a crossing except as may be required for maintenance of the crossing or for normal operation of the railroad. History:  (4748) RL s 2001; 1985 c 265 art 4 s 1; 1986 c 444; 1991 c 83 s 1
MN Stat § 219.36 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 218 - 222 — Carriers|Chapter 219 — Railroad Safety And Employment|Section 219.36 — Gate At Farm Crossing.

219.36 GATE AT FARM CROSSING. A railroad company, which erects at a farm crossing a gate for the exclusive use of the owner and occupants of that farm, provides a lock for the gate, and delivers the key for the lock to the owner or occupant, is not liable to the owner or occupant for an animal killed or injured because the gate was left open without fault of the company, unless the killing or injury resulted from the wanton or malicious act of the company or its employees. History:  (4749) RL s 2002; 1985 c 265 art 4 s 1
MN Stat § 219.37 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 218 - 222 — Carriers|Chapter 219 — Railroad Safety And Employment|Section 219.37 — Ditch And Culvert.

219.37 DITCH AND CULVERT. A railroad company or receiver or lessee of a railroad company, operating a line of railroad in the state, shall keep clean at all times between the first day of April and the first day of November of each year all ditches and culverts constructed by them for the drainage of their roadbed or right-of-way. This section does not apply to ditches and culverts not located upon the right-of-way of a railroad. History:  (4750) 1909 c 377 s 1; 1985 c 265 art 4 s 1
MN Stat § 219.383 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 218 - 222 — Carriers|Chapter 219 — Railroad Safety And Employment|Section 219.383 — Safe Operation Of Train Over Road; Penalty.

219.383 SAFE OPERATION OF TRAIN OVER ROAD; PENALTY. Subdivision 1. Speed fixed. The commissioner of transportation, on petition of a city council or a railway corporation, may fix and determine after a hearing a reasonable speed for the operation of an engine or train on and over a railroad crossing of a public highway or street in that city. Subd. 2. Maximum speed. Where the commissioner has fixed the speed of an engine or train over a public highway or street crossing in a city as provided in this section, the fixed speed is the lawful maximum speed at which an engine or train may be operated on and over that public highway or street crossing, until changed by subsequent order of the commissioner. Subd. 3. Not to block public road or street. No railway corporation shall permit a public road or street crossing a railroad track to be closed for traffic by a standing car, train, engine, or other railroad equipment, or by a switching movement which continuously blocks a crossing for longer than ten minutes. This subdivision does not apply to cities of the first class which regulate obstruction of streets by ordinance. Subd. 4. Penalty. A railway corporation violating this section is guilty of a petty misdemeanor. A corporation that commits a second or subsequent violation of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor. History:  1945 c 220 s 1-5; 1971 c 25 s 67; 1973 c 123 art 5 s 7; 1976 c 166 s 32; 1980 c 460 s 17; 1980 c 534 s 34; 1985 c 265 art 4 s 1; 1987 c 329 s 21; 1994 c 636 art 2 s 7; 1998 c 403 s 29
MN Stat § 219.384 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 218 - 222 — Carriers|Chapter 219 — Railroad Safety And Employment|Section 219.384 — Removal Of Dangerous Obstruction.

219.384 REMOVAL OF DANGEROUS OBSTRUCTION. Subdivision 1. Removal ordered. If a railroad company, road authority, or abutting property owner fails to control the growth of trees or vegetation or the placement of structures or other obstructions on its right-of-way or property so as to interfere with the safety of the public traveling on a public or private grade crossing, the local governing body of the town or municipality where the grade crossing is located may, by notice, require the obstruction to be removed as necessary to provide an adequate view of oncoming trains at the crossings. The commissioner shall adopt rules establishing minimum standards for visibility at public and private grade crossings. Subd. 2. Penalty. A railroad company, road authority, or property owner that fails to comply with this section within 30 days after being notified in writing is subject to a fine of $50 for each day that the condition is uncorrected. This penalty may be recovered in the manner provided in section 219.97, subdivision 5. History:   1991 c 298 art 2 s 7
MN Stat § 219.39 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 218 - 222 — Carriers|Chapter 219 — Railroad Safety And Employment|Section 219.39 — Dangerous Crossing; Complaint, Hearing.

219.39 DANGEROUS CROSSING; COMPLAINT, HEARING. Upon written complaint authorized by the governing body of a city or county, by the board of supervisors of a town, or by authorized officers of a subject railroad, alleging that a railroad crossing a street, road, or highway in the city, town, or county is dangerous to life and property, and giving the reasons for the allegations, the commissioner shall investigate the matters contained in the complaint and, when necessary, initiate a hearing. History:  (4662) 1911 c 243 s 1; 1923 c 134 s 1; 1971 c 25 s 67; 1973 c 123 art 5 s 7; 1975 c 313 s 2; 1976 c 166 s 33; 1980 c 534 s 35; 1Sp1981 c 4 art 2 s 21; 1985 c 265 art 4 s 1; 1999 c 86 art 1 s 48
MN Stat § 219.402 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 218 - 222 — Carriers|Chapter 219 — Railroad Safety And Employment|Section 219.402 — Adequate Crossing Protection.

219.402 ADEQUATE CROSSING PROTECTION. Crossing warning devices or improvements installed or maintained under this chapter as approved by the commissioner or any predecessor, whether by order or otherwise, are adequate and appropriate warning for the crossing. History:  1985 c 265 art 4 s 1; 1991 c 298 art 2 s 8; 1998 c 403 s 29; 2001 c 213 s 26
MN Stat § 219.403 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 218 - 222 — Carriers|Chapter 219 — Railroad Safety And Employment|Section 219.403 — Applicability To Local Laws.

219.403 APPLICABILITY TO LOCAL LAWS. Nothing in this section or section 161.20, 219.40, or 219.071 changes existing law relating to the rights and liabilities of a city, town, or county in connection with the construction or maintenance of a railroad crossing, grade separation, or signal system, or impairs the terms or conditions of an existing arrangement or agreement, or renewals of it, between a railroad company and a municipality for the maintenance of a railroad crossing, grade separation, or signal system. History:  1951 c 179 s 3; 1965 c 51 s 39; 1973 c 123 art 5 s 7; 1980 c 460 s 20; 1985 c 265 art 4 s 1
MN Stat § 219.41 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 218 - 222 — Carriers|Chapter 219 — Railroad Safety And Employment|Section 219.41 — Appeal; Order Enforcement.

219.41 APPEAL; ORDER ENFORCEMENT. A railroad company or the city, town, or county making the complaint may appeal from an order of the commissioner of transportation to the district court of the county in which the crossing is located. The same appeal proceedings must be held as now provided by law for an appeal from orders of the commissioner. Orders of the commissioner must be enforced by the attorney general. History:  (4664) 1911 c 243 s 3; 1971 c 25 s 67; 1973 c 123 art 5 s 7; 1976 c 166 s 36; 1980 c 534 s 37; 1985 c 265 art 4 s 1; 1998 c 403 s 29
MN Stat § 219.42 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 218 - 222 — Carriers|Chapter 219 — Railroad Safety And Employment|Section 219.42 — Failure To Comply; Penalty.

219.42 FAILURE TO COMPLY; PENALTY. A railroad company or city, town, or county failing to comply with an order of the commissioner of transportation that is not appealed from or, if appealed from, affirmed in whole or in part, is liable to a penalty of $50 for every day of noncompliance, to be collected in civil action brought by the attorney general. History:  (4665) 1911 c 243 s 4; 1971 c 25 s 67; 1973 c 123 art 5 s 7; 1976 c 166 s 37; 1980 c 534 s 38; 1985 c 265 art 4 s 1; 1998 c 403 s 29
MN Stat § 219.44 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 218 - 222 — Carriers|Chapter 219 — Railroad Safety And Employment|Section 219.44 — Charter Powers Not Abridged.

219.44 CHARTER POWERS NOT ABRIDGED. Nothing in sections 219.39 to 219.44 repeals, abridges, modifies, or affects the power contained in the charter of a city to require railroads to maintain gates, flaggers, or safety devices at public highway crossings in that city, or any ordinance enacted pursuant to that power. History:  (4667) 1911 c 243 s 6; 1973 c 123 art 5 s 7; 1985 c 265 art 4 s 1
MN Stat § 219.45 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 218 - 222 — Carriers|Chapter 219 — Railroad Safety And Employment|Section 219.45 — Applicability.

219.45 APPLICABILITY. Sections 219.45 to 219.53 apply to a person, corporation, or anyone owning, operating, or maintaining a structure or obstruction adjacent to railway tracks and to a corporation, receiver of the corporation, or any person while engaged as a common carrier in the transportation by railroad of passengers or property to which the regulative powers of this state extend, except a railway operated by the electric trolley system. History:  (4753) 1913 c 307 s 1; 1937 c 238 s 1; 1985 c 265 art 4 s 1
MN Stat § 219.47 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 218 - 222 — Carriers|Chapter 219 — Railroad Safety And Employment|Section 219.47 — Clearance Exceptions.

219.47 CLEARANCE EXCEPTIONS. Subdivision 1. Permanent. The commissioner of transportation, upon application made, after a thorough investigation, may permit a common carrier, person, or corporation to which sections 219.45 to 219.53 apply, to erect an overhead or side obstruction closer to the track than provided for in section 219.46, to construct track at less clearance than provided for in section 219.46, and to reconstruct and maintain them when in the judgment of the commissioner compliance with the clearance prescribed in section 219.46 is unreasonable or unnecessary or the erection or construction of the overhead or side obstruction or tracks or the reconstruction and maintenance of them at less clearance than provided in section 219.46 will not create a condition unduly hazardous to the employees of that common carrier, person, or corporation. Before taking final action on the application, the commissioner need conduct only those hearings or other proceedings as it finds necessary for the resolution of the material issues raised by the application. Subd. 2. Temporary. The commissioner, upon application made, may grant temporary clearance variances, with appropriate safeguards and without hearing, for statutory encroachments resulting from emergency or temporary construction situations. History:  (4755) 1913 c 307 s 3; 1915 c 171 s 2; 1937 c 238 s 3; 1943 c 390 s 8; 1971 c 25 s 67; 1976 c 166 s 42; 1980 c 460 s 21; 1980 c 534 s 41; 1985 c 265 art 4 s 1; 1986 c 468 s 3; 1998 c 403 s 29
MN Stat § 219.50 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 218 - 222 — Carriers|Chapter 219 — Railroad Safety And Employment|Section 219.50 — Obstructing Space Between Tracks.

219.50 OBSTRUCTING SPACE BETWEEN TRACKS. It is unlawful for a common carrier, person, or corporation subject to sections 219.44 to 219.52 to permit the space between or beside tracks that is ordinarily used by employees in the discharge of their duties and is within 8-1/2 feet of the centerline of the track, to become or remain obstructed by a foreign obstacle that will interfere with the work of the employees or subject the employees to unnecessary hazard. This space between or beside the tracks and between the rails of the tracks must be kept in a condition as to permit the employees to pass over or between the tracks or to use the space day or night and under all weather conditions without unnecessary hazard. History:  (4758) 1913 c 307 s 6; 1913 c 448 s 1; 1980 c 460 s 22; 1985 c 265 art 4 s 1
MN Stat § 219.501 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 218 - 222 — Carriers|Chapter 219 — Railroad Safety And Employment|Section 219.501 — Rail Carrier Walkways.

219.501 RAIL CARRIER WALKWAYS. Subdivision 1. Duty to provide walkways. (a) Rail carriers must provide walkways adjacent to those portions of yard tracks where rail carrier employees frequently work on the ground performing switching activities. For purposes of this section, "frequently work" means at least five days per week, one shift per day. (b) This section applies to reconstruction and new construction of yard track completed after July 1, 2008. (c) This section does not apply to an entity that owns or operates track in this state other than class one and class two rail carriers as classified by the Federal Railroad Administration. Subd. 2. General requirements. (a) Walkways constructed pursuant to this section may be surfaced with asphalt, concrete, planking, grating, native material, crushed material, or other similar nonrevenue material. When crushed material is used, 100 percent of the material must be capable of passing through a 1-1/2-inch square sieve opening, and at least 90 percent of the material must be capable of passing through a one-inch square sieve opening provided, however, a de minimus variation is not a violation of this section where the rail carrier has made a good-faith effort to comply with the percentage requirements. Smaller crushed material is preferable, where drainage and durability issues do not arise. Material that is three-quarter inch or less in size is recommended for switching lead tracks. (b) Walkways must have a reasonably uniform surface and must be maintained in a safe condition without compromising track drainage. (c) Cross slopes for walkways must not exceed one inch of elevation for each eight inches of horizontal length in any direction. (d) Walkways must be a minimum width of two feet. (e) Walkways regulated under this section must be kept reasonably clear of spilled fuel, oil, sand, posts, rocks, and other hazards or obstructions. Subd. 3. Allowances for unusual conditions. Rail carriers are not required to comply with the requirements of this section during (1) maintenance activities or any period of heavy rain or snow, derailments, rock and earth slides, washouts, and similar weather or seismic conditions, and (2) during a reasonable period after any occurrences identified in clause (1) in order to allow a return to compliance. Subd. 4. Waiver of requirements. Upon written request of a rail carrier, the commissioner may waive any portion of this section where conditions do not reasonably allow compliance. A decision of the commissioner is subject to the requirements under section 218.041. History:   2008 c 350 art 2 s 1
MN Stat § 219.51 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 218 - 222 — Carriers|Chapter 219 — Railroad Safety And Employment|Section 219.51 — Violations And Penalties.

219.51 VIOLATIONS AND PENALTIES. Subdivision 1. Violation. A common carrier, corporation, or person subject to sections 219.45 to 219.53 violating any of the provisions of those sections, is liable to a penalty of not more than $500 for each violation. Subd. 2. Failure to correct. If a common carrier, person, or corporation (1) fails to correct a violation of sections 219.45 to 219.53 when ordered by the commissioner of transportation within the time provided in the order, and (2) does not appeal the order, then failure to correct the violation as ordered by the commissioner constitutes a new and separate offense distinct from the original violation of sections 219.45 to 219.53. Subd. 3. Duties of attorney general. The penalty must be recovered in a suit brought in the name of the state by the attorney general in a court having jurisdiction in the locality where the violation was committed. Under the direction of the commissioner, the attorney general shall bring suit upon receipt of duly verified information from any person of a violation being committed. The commissioner shall lodge with the attorney general information of any violation as may come to their knowledge. Subd. 4. Walkway orders. When the commissioner finds that rail carrier employees who frequently work adjacent to a portion of track performing switching activities are exposed to safety hazards due to the lack of a walkway or to the condition of a walkway constructed before July 1, 2008, the commissioner may, under the provisions of this section, order a rail carrier to construct a walkway adjacent to a portion of track where employees are performing switching activities, or require a rail carrier to modify an existing walkway in conformance with the standards set forth in section 219.501, within a reasonable period of time. Subd. 5. Filing of complaints. No formal complaint of an alleged violation of sections 219.45 to 219.53 may be filed until the filing party has attempted to address the alleged violations with the rail carrier. Any complaint of an alleged violation must contain a written statement that the filing party has made a reasonable, good-faith attempt to address the alleged violation. History:  (4759) 1913 c 307 s 7; 1937 c 238 s 4; 1971 c 25 s 67; 1976 c 166 s 43; 1980 c 534 s 42; 1985 c 265 art 4 s 1; 1998 c 403 s 29; 2008 c 350 art 2 s 2
MN Stat § 219.52 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 218 - 222 — Carriers|Chapter 219 — Railroad Safety And Employment|Section 219.52 — Warning Sign; Reporting Clearance Violations.

219.52 WARNING SIGN; REPORTING CLEARANCE VIOLATIONS. If a structure is nearer the track than as provided by sections 219.45 to 219.53, the commissioner of transportation shall provide for warning signs to be placed on it of a design and type as the commissioner considers proper unless the commissioner determines a sign is unnecessary. Railroad inspectors of the Department of Labor and Industry shall report to the commissioner and attorney general any violation of sections 219.45 to 219.53 of which they may obtain knowledge. History:  (4760) 1913 c 307 s 8; 1937 c 238 s 5; 1971 c 25 s 67; 1976 c 166 s 44; 1980 c 460 s 23; 1980 c 534 s 43; 1985 c 265 art 4 s 1; 1998 c 403 s 29