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Amendment requiring on-track maintenance equipment to stop at crossings fails; House Bill 671 advances
Summary
An amendment that would have required railroad maintenance equipment to stop at grade crossings and in some circumstances for the railroad to flag crossings was defeated; the committee later voted House Bill 671 "do pass."
Representative Burton moved an amendment (0.101H) to House Bill 671 that would require "any railroad safety or maintenance equipment" considered on-track equipment "to come to a complete stop at all intersections with vehicles." Burton said the change would "increase the safety of all Missourians" and avoid placing liability on motorists.
Members raised questions about rural crossings, how intersections are marked and who would perform flagging duties where automatic warning devices are absent. Representative Boggs asked whether crossings are always marked and whether the amendment would impose personnel duties; Burton said the amendment required vehicles to stop and that flagging was an option in some language. Representative Chapel and others noted the amendment uses the word "shall," which would create a mandatory duty; Representative Waller suggested changing the verb to "may." Burton replied he would not alter that word in the amendment.
The chair put the amendment to a vote; "the noes have it," and the amendment failed. The committee then called the roll on the underlying bill; "By your vote of 10 ayes, 4 nos, and 1 present, you have voted at house bill 6 71 do pass."
