SB 24 would increase the criminal penalty for corporations, associations, or companies that willfully block or interfere with public highway crossings over railroad tracks outside incorporated cities and towns. Under current law, a violation is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of $25 to $100; the bill raises that range to $750 to $1,500. The underlying conduct covered by the statute remains the same: stopping a train, car, engine, or locomotive for more than 15 minutes at a crossing, or leaving an object on the track at the crossing point.
The bill also keeps the existing rule that this provision does not repeal other laws dealing with encroachments on or obstruction of public highways. It would take effect immediately upon passage and approval. In practical terms, the bill would amend Section 69-14-626, MCA, and increase the financial consequences for railroad-related roadway blockages in rural areas and at grade crossings.
Impact
SB 24 would directly amend Montana Code Annotated section 69-14-626 by increasing the minimum and maximum fine for blocking railroad crossings from $25-$100 to $750-$1,500. The bill does not change the definition of the offense, the entities covered, or the locations covered, but it substantially strengthens enforcement by making the misdemeanor penalty more severe. Its effect would fall on rail carriers and related corporate entities operating trains across public highway crossings outside incorporated municipalities, and it would apply immediately upon enactment.
Sentiment
The available legislative history suggests the bill was not controversial in committee, at least at the recorded vote stage: the Senate Energy, Technology & Federal Relations Committee voted 13-0 to table the bill. There are no committee transcript excerpts provided, so there is no recorded debate to indicate strong support or opposition in the materials supplied. The unanimous vote to table, combined with the bill’s final status as dead in process, suggests the proposal did not advance despite the absence of recorded dissent in the vote shown.
Contention
The main policy issue is whether the existing fine for blocked railroad crossings is too low and should be increased to deter railroads from obstructing public road crossings for extended periods. Supporters, including the bill’s sponsor and the Public Service Commission request, appear to have viewed the change as a public-safety and traffic-flow enforcement measure. Potential opponents would likely be railroad companies and other affected carriers, who could argue that the higher fines are excessive or that operational delays are sometimes unavoidable. However, no direct opposition statements are included in the provided record.