Because the number of violations the may occur and dollar amount of civil penalties that may be collected under the provisions of the bill is unknown, the potential revenue gain to the General Revenue Fund from civil penalties cannot be determined at this time.
The bill would prohibit a train of a railway company from obstructing a street, railroad crossing, or public highway. With certain exceptions, a railway company that violates this provision would be subject to a civil penalty of $10,000 for each hour that the violation continues. The bill would require the county in which the violation occurs to issue a written notice of the violation to the railway company and authorize the appropriate district or county attorney to bring an action to collect the civil penalty on behalf of the state. The bill would require the civil penalty to be deposited to the state treasury to the credit of the General Revenue Fund. The bill would take effect on September 1, 2025.
Because the number of violations the may occur and dollar amount of civil penalties that may be collected is unknown, the potential revenue gain to the General Revenue Fund from civil penalties cannot be determined at this time.
No significant impact to the state court system is anticipated.
The fiscal implications of the bill to units of local government cannot be determined at this time.