<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<section article="gpu" article_name="Public Utilities" number="5-405" title_number="5" title_name="Powers, Duties, and Prohibitions" subtitle_number="4" subtitle_name="Franchises and Condemnation">
  <level label="a">
    <text>A railroad company or its authorized agent may agree with the owner to purchase, use, occupy, or divert the owner’s land, earth, gravel, stone, timber, streams, materials, or improvements that the company wants for the proper construction or repair of the railroad company’s roads or works.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>The company may acquire the property by condemnation under Title 12 of the Real Property Article if:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>the company cannot agree with the owner of the property; or</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>an owner:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>is a minor, is adjudged to be mentally incompetent, or is under any other legal disability to contract; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>is absent from the county in which the property is located when the company wants the property.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
