DIVISION 4. LAWS RELATING TO UTILITY CORPORATIONS AND THEIR EMPLOYEES

CHAPTER 1. RAILROAD CORPORATIONS

Article 5.  Railroad Equipment

7604. (a) A bell, of at least 20 pounds weight or of equivalent sound-producing capability, shall be placed on each locomotive engine, and shall be rung at a distance of at least 1,320 feet from the place where the railroad crosses any street, road, or highway, and be kept ringing until it has crossed the street, road, or highway; or a steam whistle, air siren, or an air whistle shall be attached, and be sounded at the like distance, and be kept sounding at intervals until it has crossed the street, road, or highway, except as follows:

(1) In a city, the ringing of the bell or the sounding of the steam whistle, air siren, or air whistle shall be at the discretion of the operator of the locomotive engine.

(2) When a locomotive engine is engaged in a switching operation or comes to a stop at any point within a distance of 1,320 feet from the place at which the railroad crosses any street, road, or highway, it shall not be necessary that the bell be rung or the whistle, air siren, or air whistle be sounded, until the time and from the place that the locomotive begins an uninterrupted movement to and across the place at which the railroad crosses the street, road, or highway.

(3) (A) The ringing of the bell or the sounding of the steam whistle, air siren, or air whistle is not required when approaching a railroad crossing that has a permanently installed audible warning device authorized by the commission that sounds automatically when an approaching train is at least 1,320 feet from the place where the railroad crosses any street, road, or highway, and that keeps sounding until the lead locomotive has crossed the street, road, or highway.

(B) The operator of the locomotive may ring the bell or sound the steam whistle, air siren, or air whistle at crossings equipped as set forth in subparagraph (A).

(b) Any railroad corporation violating this section shall be subject to a penalty of one hundred dollars ($100) for every violation. The penalty may be recovered in an action prosecuted by the district attorney of the proper county, for the use of the state.

The corporation is also liable for all damages sustained by any person, and caused by its locomotives, train, or cars, when the provisions of this section are not complied with.