<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<section article="gpu" article_name="Public Utilities" number="9-311" title_number="9" title_name="Carrier Companies" subtitle_number="3" subtitle_name="Maryland Railroad Companies">
  <level label="a">
    <level label="1">
      <text>At least 30 days before making a determination, the local governing body of a county shall notify a railroad company that the county will consider the need to protect a railroad crossing over a public highway if:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>the crossing is in the county but outside of a municipal corporation;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>the crossing is at grade; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>the highway is believed to be of a character as to render dangerous the passage of locomotives and trains on it.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>A county shall give the notice by serving written notice on the superintendent or other agent of the railroad company in the county.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>After the 30-day period, the local governing body of a county may determine that protection is necessary at the crossing.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>The county shall notify the railroad company through its superintendent or ticket agent in the county that, within 60 days, the railroad company shall:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>place a flagman or a system of electric alarm bells at the crossing to give timely notice to all persons using the crossing of the approach of trains;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>erect safety gates at the crossing that shall be closed not less than one-half minute before the passage and during the passage of a train; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>change the crossing at grade to an undergrade or overgrade crossing.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>If a railroad company does not comply with the requirements of a county under subsection (a)(4) of this section, the railroad company is subject to a fine of $25 per day for each day that the company is not in compliance.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <level label="1">
      <text>As other fines are collected, the local governing body of a county shall enforce the payment of fines imposed by subsection (b) of this section in the circuit court for the county.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The State’s Attorney of the county shall prosecute under this subsection when the local governing body of the county so directs.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
