Blockage of public grade crossings.
(1) Railroad companies must not block a grade crossing for more than ten consecutive minutes, if reasonably possible.
(2) A blocked grade crossing must be cleared immediately by the fastest available method, if the train movement will not violate rules issued by the Federal Railroad Administration, upon the request of law enforcement or other emergency services personnel, or when the engineer becomes aware that the crossing is being approached by a law enforcement or other emergency services vehicle with its emergency lights flashing or that such a vehicle is stopped with its emergency lights flashing at the crossing blocked by the train.
(3) A grade crossing is "blocked" if any part of a stopped train occupies the crossing or causes warning devices to be activated.
[Statutory Authority: RCW
80.01.040,
81.04.160,
81.24.010,
81.28.010,
81.28.290,
81.40.110,
81.44.010,
81.44.020,
81.44.101-
81.44.105, and chapters
81.48, 81.53, 81.54, 81.60, and
81.61 RCW. WSR 01-04-026 (Docket No. TR-981102, General Order No. R-477), ยง 480-62-220, filed 1/30/01, effective 3/2/01.]