(a) (1) (A) Prior to any request by a state, municipal, or county official for sanctions against any railroad company for violation of any regulation promulgated pursuant to this subchapter, the state, municipal, or county official shall state the claim or complaint in writing by certified mail to the registered agent of the railroad company in question.

(B)

(i) Within forty-five (45) days after the receipt of the written claim or complaint by the railroad company, the railroad company shall respond to the claim or complaint, stating with specificity the corrective action taken, any corrective or remedial action planned and the time for its completion, or the reason for any refusal on the part of the railroad to correct the situation.

(ii) This response shall be in writing to the complaining official by certified mail.

(2)

(A) In the event the issue is not then resolved to the satisfaction of the complaining official, the official shall notify the State Highway Commission in writing.

(B)

(i) Within sixty (60) days after receipt of the complaint, the commission shall hold a hearing on the complaint.

(ii) Notice of the hearing shall be given the railroad and the complainant at least twenty (20) days before the hearing.

(C) After appropriate notice and hearing on the complaint and within twenty (20) days after the hearing, the commission or its designated representative shall determine the adequacy of the railroad's action or the reasonableness of its refusal under the circumstances.

(3)

(A) If the commission makes a finding of inadequate action or unreasonable refusal on the part of the railroad based on information presented at a hearing before the commission or before a designated representative of the commission, the railroad company charged with the violation shall be subject to a penalty of not less than two hundred dollars ($200) nor more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000) per occurrence, the penalty to be assessed by the commission.

(B)

(i) The decision of the commission may be appealed to the circuit court of the county in which the violation occurred at any time within thirty (30) days after the decision is rendered.

(ii) Provided, the decision of the commission shall be final unless appealed as authorized herein.

(b)

(1) If the state owns the highway where the questioned crossing is located, all moneys recovered under the provisions of this section shall be placed into the State Highway and Transportation Department Fund.

(2) All other moneys recovered under this section shall be divided equally between the State Highway and Transportation Department Fund and the general, road, or highway fund of the county or municipality which owns the highway, road, or street where the questioned crossing is located.