<?xml version="1.0"?>
<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>73503</law_id><section_number>56-414</section_number><catch_line>Bell and whistle or horn; when sounded</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>46.2-885</reference><reference>56-415</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="56">Public Service Companies</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="13">Railroad Corporations</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="7">Safety Provisions</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>Every <span class="dictionary">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 <span class="dictionary">highway</span> or crossing, and such bell shall be rung or whistle or horn sounded continuously or alternately until the locomotive has reached such <span class="dictionary">highway</span> crossing, and shall give such signals in cities and towns as their local governing bodies may require.
		The governing body of any county, city, or town may by <span class="dictionary">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 <span class="dictionary">mail</span> to the registered agent of the railroad operating in the affected county, city, or town. Affected <span class="dictionary">railroads</span> shall comply with any such <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> within 30 days of receiving the notice.
		The governing body of any county, city, or town may, by <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> adopted following a public <span class="dictionary">hearing</span>, <span class="dictionary">petition</span> the State <span class="dictionary">Corporation</span> <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> to enter an <span class="dictionary">order</span>, pursuant to the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span>&#x2019;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 <span class="dictionary">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 <span class="dictionary">order</span>. The affected railroad shall comply with the <span class="dictionary">order</span> within 90 days of receipt by its registered agent of notice sent by registered <span class="dictionary">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 <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> may establish and collect a fee, not to exceed its actual costs, from applicants for an <span class="dictionary">order</span> to sound locomotive whistles pursuant to this section.</p></section></text><history>Code 1919, &#xA7; 3958; 1950, p. 944; 1956, c. 164; 1993, c. 483; 2003, c. 287.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
