Railroad Crossings
Search names, statutes, classifications, penalties, points, and enforcement notes.
3 offenses
Certain vehicles fail to stop at railroad crossing
Florida Statute § 316.159
Passenger-for-hire vehicles other than taxicabs, school buses carrying children, and vehicles carrying explosive or flammable-liquid cargo must stop 15–50 feet from the nearest rail, look and listen, and proceed only when safe without shifting gears on the tracks. An officer, signal, or sign may permit proceeding, but a school bus carrying children still must stop unless an officer directs otherwise. Other commercial vehicles must slow and check for trains. Confirm vehicle use/cargo, stopping point, and the applicable exception.
Insufficient clearance at railroad crossing
Florida Statute § 316.1576
Do not enter a railroad crossing unless there is enough space beyond it to clear completely without stopping or obstructing vehicles, pedestrians, trains, or rail equipment—even on a green signal. A vehicle must also have enough undercarriage clearance to cross without becoming stuck or obstructing rail traffic. Document queue space, vehicle length, crossing profile, and actual or predictable obstruction. The prohibited act is entering without sufficient clearance, not only a resulting collision.
Railroad crossing traffic-control violation
Florida Statute § 316.1575
Stop 15–50 feet from the nearest rail when a crossing signal warns of approaching rail traffic, a gate is down, an officer/flagger signals, or an approaching train/equipment gives an audible warning or presents the specified immediate hazard. Proceed only when clear and safe. Do not drive through, around, or under a gate while closed, opening, or closing. Record the signal/gate condition, rail traffic, stopping point, and movement; pedestrian and vehicle violations have different penalty tracks.