Opinion ID: 669894
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Inadequacy of Reflective Material Claim

Text: The portion of Grade's claim (d) that alleges negligence in failing to equip the railcars with reflective devices or warning lights is also preempted because there are federal regulations that control what types of warning devices must be placed on railcars, and the BNSF railcar was in compliance with those regulations. See 49 C.F.R. §§ 224.101, 107. The regulations establish a timeline for equipping cars owned prior to 2006 with reflective material, and BNSF's evidence indicated that the railcar in question was not yet required to be equipped with reflective devices under the timeline. Regulation 224.1(b) states that owners of railcars are under no duty to install, clean or otherwise maintain, or repair reflective material except as specified by the regulations. 49 C.F.R. § 224.1(b). BNSF was in compliance with the federal regulations controlling reflective devices, and Grade cannot create requirements beyond those included in the regulations through a state tort suit. The district court was correct in determining that Grade's claim of negligence based on failure to equip the railcar with reflective devices is preempted.