Effective 28 Aug 1996

622.240. Authority of division to require safety devices and safeguards — prohibition against red signs adjacent to tracks, when. — 1. The division may, after a hearing had upon its own motion or upon complaint, by general or special orders, rules or regulations, or otherwise, require every person, corporation, and carrier to maintain and operate its line, plant, system, equipment, apparatus, tracks and premises in such manner as to promote and safeguard the health and safety of its employees, passengers, customers, and the public. The division may prescribe, among other things, the installation, use, maintenance and operation of appropriate safety and other devices or appliances. The division may waive the requirements for notice and hearing and provide for expeditious issuance of an order in any case in which the division determines that the failure to do so would result in the likelihood of imminent threat of serious harm to life or property, except that the division shall include in such an order an opportunity for hearing as soon as practicable after the issuance of such order.

2. No person, partnership, firm or corporation shall set up, install, operate or cause to be operated, upon the person's or its premises, any sign or light commonly known as "red neon" or any other kind of red signs, along, adjacent to or in line of vision of any main line track of a railroad in this state, except the same be shaded or shielded, so as to prevent them from being observed from the line of vision, as viewed from an approaching locomotive cab, or where they may cause confusion to the men in the locomotive cab, thereby endangering the safe and efficient operating of such train or locomotive. The division shall inspect such confusing signs, upon complaint, and determine if such sign or signs are confusing or dangerous, and advise the owner or operator of their findings and prescribe an adequate shield therefor.

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(L. 1996 S.B. 780)