{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/56-414.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/56-414.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/56-414.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/56-414.html"}],"law_id":73503,"edition_id":1,"section_id":73503,"structure_id":13822,"section_number":"56-414","catch_line":"Bell and whistle or horn; when sounded","history":"Code 1919, \u00a7 3958; 1950, p. 944; 1956, c. 164; 1993, c. 483; 2003, c. 287.","full_text":"Every railroad company shall provide each locomotive passing upon its road with a bell of ordinary size and steam whistle or horn, and such whistle or horn shall be sharply sounded outside cities and towns at least twice at a distance of not less than 300 yards nor more than 600 yards from the place where the railroad crosses upon the same level any public highway or crossing, and such bell shall be rung or whistle or horn sounded continuously or alternately until the locomotive has reached such highway crossing, and shall give such signals in cities and towns as their local governing bodies may require.\n\t\tThe governing body of any county, city, or town may by ordinance require locomotives to sound their whistle upon approaching designated railroad trestles or bridges having lengths of 100 feet or more. Notice of any such requirement shall be given by registered mail to the registered agent of the railroad operating in the affected county, city, or town. Affected railroads shall comply with any such ordinance within 30 days of receiving the notice.\n\t\tThe governing body of any county, city, or town may, by ordinance adopted following a public hearing, petition the State Corporation Commission to enter an order, pursuant to the Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure, requiring locomotives to sound their whistle or horn at specifically identified private crossings in the same manner as required for public crossings. If the Commission should deem the blowing of the locomotive whistle at such private crossings to be necessary in the interest of safety under all relevant circumstances, then it shall enter an order. The affected railroad shall comply with the order within 90 days of receipt by its registered agent of notice sent by registered mail and the locality must first install stop signs on both sides of such private crossing, to be paid for by the locality or the landowner. The Commission may establish and collect a fee, not to exceed its actual costs, from applicants for an order to sound locomotive whistles pursuant to this section.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":264479,"text":"Every railroad company shall provide each locomotive passing upon its road with a bell of ordinary size and steam whistle or horn, and such whistle or horn shall be sharply sounded outside cities and towns at least twice at a distance of not less than 300 yards nor more than 600 yards from the place where the railroad crosses upon the same level any public highway or crossing, and such bell shall be rung or whistle or horn sounded continuously or alternately until the locomotive has reached such highway crossing, and shall give such signals in cities and towns as their local governing bodies may require.\n\t\tThe governing body of any county, city, or town may by ordinance require locomotives to sound their whistle upon approaching designated railroad trestles or bridges having lengths of 100 feet or more. Notice of any such requirement shall be given by registered mail to the registered agent of the railroad operating in the affected county, city, or town. Affected railroads shall comply with any such ordinance within 30 days of receiving the notice.\n\t\tThe governing body of any county, city, or town may, by ordinance adopted following a public hearing, petition the State Corporation Commission to enter an order, pursuant to the Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure, requiring locomotives to sound their whistle or horn at specifically identified private crossings in the same manner as required for public crossings. If the Commission should deem the blowing of the locomotive whistle at such private crossings to be necessary in the interest of safety under all relevant circumstances, then it shall enter an order. The affected railroad shall comply with the order within 90 days of receipt by its registered agent of notice sent by registered mail and the locality must first install stop signs on both sides of such private crossing, to be paid for by the locality or the landowner. The Commission may establish and collect a fee, not to exceed its actual costs, from applicants for an order to sound locomotive whistles pursuant to this section.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":13822,"edition_id":1,"name":"Safety Provisions","identifier":"7","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12995,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:45:59","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:45:59","permalink":{"id":249677,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13822,"identifier":"7","token":"56\/13\/7","url":"\/56\/13\/7\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12995,"edition_id":1,"name":"Railroad Corporations","identifier":"13","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12881,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:07","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:07","permalink":{"id":249439,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12995,"identifier":"13","token":"56\/13","url":"\/56\/13\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12881,"edition_id":1,"name":"Public Service Companies","identifier":"56","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:58","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:58","permalink":{"id":248473,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12881,"identifier":"56","token":"56","url":"\/56\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":69729,"structure_id":13822,"section_number":"56-413","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/56-413\/","token":"56\/13\/7\/56-413","metadata":false},{"id":64695,"structure_id":13822,"section_number":"56-413.01","catch_line":"Locomotive and rail car standards","url":"\/56-413.01\/","token":"56\/13\/7\/56-413.01","metadata":false},{"id":56741,"structure_id":13822,"section_number":"56-413.1","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/56-413.1\/","token":"56\/13\/7\/56-413.1","metadata":false},{"id":73503,"structure_id":13822,"section_number":"56-414","catch_line":"Bell and whistle or horn; when sounded","url":"\/56-414\/","token":"56\/13\/7\/56-414","metadata":false},{"id":74302,"structure_id":13822,"section_number":"56-415","catch_line":"Penalty for violation of \u00a7 56-414","url":"\/56-415\/","token":"56\/13\/7\/56-415","metadata":false},{"id":81023,"structure_id":13822,"section_number":"56-416","catch_line":"Effect of failure to give statutory signals","url":"\/56-416\/","token":"56\/13\/7\/56-416","metadata":false},{"id":57120,"structure_id":13822,"section_number":"56-417","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/56-417\/","token":"56\/13\/7\/56-417","metadata":false},{"id":54836,"structure_id":13822,"section_number":"56-417.1","catch_line":"Clearance to be provided in construction, etc., of railroad structures","url":"\/56-417.1\/","token":"56\/13\/7\/56-417.1","metadata":false},{"id":71939,"structure_id":13822,"section_number":"56-418","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/56-418\/","token":"56\/13\/7\/56-418","metadata":false},{"id":59317,"structure_id":13822,"section_number":"56-419","catch_line":"Duplicate switch keys of railroads; unlawful making, etc.; punishment","url":"\/56-419\/","token":"56\/13\/7\/56-419","metadata":false},{"id":62904,"structure_id":13822,"section_number":"56-419.1","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/56-419.1\/","token":"56\/13\/7\/56-419.1","metadata":false},{"id":69659,"structure_id":13822,"section_number":"56-419.2","catch_line":"Safety requirements applicable to vehicles transporting railroad employees","url":"\/56-419.2\/","token":"56\/13\/7\/56-419.2","metadata":false},{"id":60266,"structure_id":13822,"section_number":"56-420","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/56-420\/","token":"56\/13\/7\/56-420","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":56741,"structure_id":13822,"section_number":"56-413.1","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/56-413.1\/","token":"56\/13\/7\/56-413.1","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":74302,"structure_id":13822,"section_number":"56-415","catch_line":"Penalty for violation of \u00a7 56-414","url":"\/56-415\/","token":"56\/13\/7\/56-415","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/56-414\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 3 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1956, chapter 164; in 1993, chapter 483; in 2003, chapter 287<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":54452,"section_number":"46.2-885","catch_line":"When vehicles to stop at railroad grade crossings","order_by":null,"url":"\/46.2-885\/"},{"id":74302,"section_number":"56-415","catch_line":"Penalty for violation of \u00a7 56-414","order_by":null,"url":"\/56-415\/"}],"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":249691,"object_type":"law","relational_id":73503,"identifier":"56-414","token":"56\/13\/7\/56-414","url":"\/56-414\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/56-414\/","token":"56\/13\/7\/56-414","dublin_core":{"Title":"Bell and whistle or horn; when sounded","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 56-414","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

Every railroad company<\/span> shall provide each locomotive passing upon its road with a bell of ordinary size and steam whistle or horn, and such whistle or horn shall be sharply sounded outside cities and towns at least twice at a distance of not less than 300 yards nor more than 600 yards from the place where the railroad crosses upon the same level any public highway<\/span> or crossing, and such bell shall be rung or whistle or horn sounded continuously or alternately until the locomotive has reached such highway<\/span> crossing, and shall give such signals in cities and towns as their local governing bodies may require.\n\t\tThe governing body of any county, city, or town may by ordinance<\/span> require locomotives to sound their whistle upon approaching designated railroad trestles or bridges having lengths of 100 feet or more. Notice of any such requirement shall be given by registered mail<\/span> to the registered agent of the railroad operating in the affected county, city, or town. Affected railroads<\/span> shall comply with any such ordinance<\/span> within 30 days of receiving the notice.\n\t\tThe governing body of any county, city, or town may, by ordinance<\/span> adopted following a public hearing<\/span>, petition<\/span> the State Corporation<\/span> Commission<\/span> to enter an order<\/span>, pursuant to the Commission<\/span>’s Rules of Practice and Procedure, requiring locomotives to sound their whistle or horn at specifically identified private crossings in the same manner as required for public crossings. If the Commission<\/span> should deem the blowing of the locomotive whistle at such private crossings to be necessary in the interest of safety under all relevant circumstances, then it shall enter an order<\/span>. The affected railroad shall comply with the order<\/span> within 90 days of receipt by its registered agent of notice sent by registered mail<\/span> and the locality must first install stop signs on both sides of such private crossing, to be paid for by the locality or the landowner. The Commission<\/span> may establish and collect a fee, not to exceed its actual costs, from applicants for an order<\/span> to sound locomotive whistles pursuant to this section.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nBELL AND WHISTLE OR HORN; WHEN SOUNDED (\u00a7 56-414)\n\nEvery railroad company shall provide each locomotive passing upon its road with\na bell of ordinary size and steam whistle or horn, and such whistle or horn\nshall be sharply sounded outside cities and towns at least twice at a distance\nof not less than 300 yards nor more than 600 yards from the place where the\nrailroad crosses upon the same level any public highway or crossing, and such\nbell shall be rung or whistle or horn sounded continuously or alternately until\nthe locomotive has reached such highway crossing, and shall give such signals in\ncities and towns as their local governing bodies may require.\n\t\tThe governing body of any county, city, or town may by ordinance require\nlocomotives to sound their whistle upon approaching designated railroad trestles\nor bridges having lengths of 100 feet or more. Notice of any such requirement\nshall be given by registered mail to the registered agent of the railroad\noperating in the affected county, city, or town. Affected railroads shall comply\nwith any such ordinance within 30 days of receiving the notice.\n\t\tThe governing body of any county, city, or town may, by ordinance adopted\nfollowing a public hearing, petition the State Corporation Commission to enter\nan order, pursuant to the Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure,\nrequiring locomotives to sound their whistle or horn at specifically identified\nprivate crossings in the same manner as required for public crossings. If the\nCommission should deem the blowing of the locomotive whistle at such private\ncrossings to be necessary in the interest of safety under all relevant\ncircumstances, then it shall enter an order. The affected railroad shall comply\nwith the order within 90 days of receipt by its registered agent of notice sent\nby registered mail and the locality must first install stop signs on both sides\nof such private crossing, to be paid for by the locality or the landowner. The\nCommission may establish and collect a fee, not to exceed its actual costs, from\napplicants for an order to sound locomotive whistles pursuant to this section.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1919, \u00a7 3958; 1950, p. 944; 1956, c. 164; 1993, c. 483; 2003, c.\n287.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}