Public Act 90-0691 of the 90th General Assembly

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Public Act 90-0691

SB1875 Enrolled                               LRB9007774NTsbB

    AN ACT concerning transportation, amending named Acts.

    Be it enacted by the People of  the  State  of  Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:

    Section 5.  The Motor Fuel Tax Law is amended by changing
Section 8 as follows:

    (35 ILCS 505/8) (from Ch. 120, par. 424)
    Sec.  8.   Except  as  provided  in Section 8a, all money
received by the Department under this Act, including payments
made to the Department by member jurisdictions  participating
in  the  International Fuel Tax Agreement, shall be deposited
in a special fund in the State treasury, to be known  as  the
"Motor Fuel Tax Fund", and shall be used as follows:
    (a)  2  1/2  cents  per  gallon  of  the tax collected on
special fuel under paragraph (b) of Section 2 and Section 13a
of this Act shall be transferred to  the  State  Construction
Account Fund in the State Treasury;
    (b)  $420,000  shall  be  transferred  each  month to the
State Boating Act Fund  to  be  used  by  the  Department  of
Natural  Resources for the purposes specified in Article X of
the Boat Registration and Safety Act;
    (c)  $1,500,000 shall be transferred each  month  to  the
Grade  Crossing  Protection  Fund  to be used as follows: not
less than $6,000,000 each fiscal year shall be used  for  the
construction   or   reconstruction   of  rail  highway  grade
separation structures; beginning with fiscal  year  1997  and
ending  in  fiscal  year  1999,  $1,500,000,  and $750,000 in
fiscal year 2000 and each fiscal  year  thereafter  shall  be
transferred  to  the Transportation Regulatory Fund and shall
be accounted for as part of the rail carrier portion of  such
funds  and shall be used to pay the cost of administration of
the Illinois Commerce Commission's railroad safety program in
connection with its duties under subsection  (3)  of  Section
18c-7401  of the Illinois Vehicle Code, with the remainder to
be used by the Department of Transportation upon order of the
Illinois Commerce Commission, to pay that part  of  the  cost
apportioned  by  such  Commission  to  the State to cover the
interest of the State-wide public in  the  use  of  highways,
roads  or  streets in the county highway system, township and
district road system or municipal street system as defined in
the Illinois Highway Code, as the same may from time to  time
be  amended,  for  separation  of  grades,  for installation,
construction or  reconstruction  of  crossing  protection  or
reconstruction, alteration, relocation including construction
or  improvement  of any existing highway necessary for access
to property or improvement of any  grade  crossing  including
the  necessary  highway  approaches  thereto  of any railroad
across the highway or public road, as provided for in and  in
accordance  with  Section  18c-7401  of  the Illinois Vehicle
Code.  In entering orders for  projects  for  which  payments
from  the  Grade  Crossing  Protection Fund will be made, the
Commission shall account for expenditures authorized  by  the
orders  on a cash rather than an accrual basis.  For purposes
of this requirement an "accrual basis" assumes that the total
cost of the project is expended in the fiscal year  in  which
the order is entered, while a "cash basis" allocates the cost
of  the  project  among  fiscal  years  as  expenditures  are
actually made;
    (d)  of  the  amount remaining after allocations provided
for in subsections (a), (b)  and  (c),  a  sufficient  amount
shall be reserved to pay all of the following:
         (1)  the  costs  of  the  Department  of  Revenue in
    administering this Act;
         (2)  the costs of the Department  of  Transportation
    in  performing its duties imposed by the Illinois Highway
    Code for supervising the use  of  motor  fuel  tax  funds
    apportioned   to   municipalities,   counties   and  road
    districts;
         (3)  refunds provided for in Section 13 of this  Act
    and  under  the  terms  of  the  International  Fuel  Tax
    Agreement referenced in Section 14a;
         (4)  from  October  1, 1985 until June 30, 1994, the
    administration of the Vehicle Emissions  Inspection  Law,
    which   amount   shall   be   certified  monthly  by  the
    Environmental Protection Agency to the State  Comptroller
    and   shall   promptly   be   transferred  by  the  State
    Comptroller and Treasurer from the Motor Fuel Tax Fund to
    the Vehicle Inspection Fund, and beginning July 1,  1994,
    and  until  December 31, 2000, one-twelfth of $25,000,000
    each  month  for  the  administration  of   the   Vehicle
    Emissions  Inspection  Law  of 1995, to be transferred by
    the State Comptroller and Treasurer from the  Motor  Fuel
    Tax Fund into the Vehicle Inspection Fund;
         (5)  amounts  ordered  paid  by the Court of Claims;
    and
         (6)  payment of motor fuel use taxes due  to  member
    jurisdictions  under  the terms of the International Fuel
    Tax  Agreement.   The  Department  shall  certify   these
    amounts to the Comptroller by the 15th day of each month;
    the  Comptroller  shall cause orders to be drawn for such
    amounts, and the Treasurer shall administer those amounts
    on or before the last day of each month;
    (e)  after allocations for  the  purposes  set  forth  in
subsections (a), (b), (c) and (d), the remaining amount shall
be apportioned as follows:
         (1)  58.4% shall be deposited as follows:
              (A)  37%  into  the  State Construction Account
         Fund, and
              (B)  63% into  the  Road  Fund,  $1,250,000  of
         which   shall   be   reserved  each  month  for  the
         Department  of  Transportation   to   be   used   in
         accordance  with  the  provisions  of Sections 6-901
         through 6-906 of the Illinois Highway Code;
         (2)  41.6% shall be transferred to the Department of
    Transportation to be distributed as follows:
              (A)  49.10% to the municipalities of the State,
              (B)  16.74% to the counties of the State having
         1,000,000 or more inhabitants,
              (C)  18.27% to the counties of the State having
         less than 1,000,000 inhabitants,
              (D)  15.89% to the road districts of the State.
    As soon as may be after the first day of each  month  the
Department of Transportation shall allot to each municipality
its   share   of   the  amount  apportioned  to  the  several
municipalities which shall be in proportion to the population
of such municipalities as determined by  the  last  preceding
municipal  census  if  conducted by the Federal Government or
Federal census. If territory is annexed to  any  municipality
subsequent  to  the  time  of  the  last preceding census the
corporate authorities of such municipality may cause a census
to be taken of such annexed territory and the  population  so
ascertained   for  such  territory  shall  be  added  to  the
population of the municipality  as  determined  by  the  last
preceding census for the purpose of determining the allotment
for that municipality.  If the population of any municipality
was  not  determined by the last Federal census preceding any
apportionment, the apportionment to such  municipality  shall
be  in accordance with any census taken by such municipality.
Any municipal census used in  accordance  with  this  Section
shall be certified to the Department of Transportation by the
clerk of such municipality, and the accuracy thereof shall be
subject  to  approval  of  the Department which may make such
corrections as it ascertains to be necessary.
    As soon as may be after the first day of each  month  the
Department  of  Transportation shall allot to each county its
share of the amount apportioned to the  several  counties  of
the  State  as herein provided. Each allotment to the several
counties having less than 1,000,000 inhabitants shall  be  in
proportion  to  the  amount  of  motor  vehicle  license fees
received from the residents of such  counties,  respectively,
during  the  preceding  calendar year. The Secretary of State
shall, on or before April 15 of each year,  transmit  to  the
Department  of  Transportation  a  full  and  complete report
showing the amount of motor  vehicle  license  fees  received
from  the  residents of each county, respectively, during the
preceding calendar year.  The  Department  of  Transportation
shall,  each  month, use for allotment purposes the last such
report received from the Secretary of State.
    As soon as may be after the first day of each month,  the
Department  of  Transportation  shall  allot  to  the several
counties their share of the amount apportioned for the use of
road districts.  The allotment shall be apportioned among the
several counties in the State in  the  proportion  which  the
total mileage of township or district roads in the respective
counties  bears  to  the  total  mileage  of all township and
district roads in the State. Funds allotted to the respective
counties for the use  of  road  districts  therein  shall  be
allocated  to the several road districts in the county in the
proportion which  the  total  mileage  of  such  township  or
district  roads in the respective road districts bears to the
total mileage of all such township or district roads  in  the
county.   After  July  1  of any year, no allocation shall be
made for any road district unless it levied a  tax  for  road
and  bridge  purposes  in  an  amount  which will require the
extension of such tax against the  taxable  property  in  any
such  road district at a rate of not less than either .08% of
the value thereof, based upon the  assessment  for  the  year
immediately  prior  to  the year in which such tax was levied
and as equalized by the Department of Revenue or,  in  DuPage
County,  an  amount equal to or greater than $12,000 per mile
of  road  under  the  jurisdiction  of  the  road   district,
whichever is less.  If any road district has levied a special
tax  for  road purposes pursuant to Sections 6-601, 6-602 and
6-603 of the Illinois Highway Code, and such tax  was  levied
in  an  amount which would require extension at a rate of not
less than .08% of the value of the taxable property  thereof,
as equalized or assessed by the Department of Revenue, or, in
DuPage County, an amount equal to or greater than $12,000 per
mile  of  road  under  the jurisdiction of the road district,
whichever is less, such levy  shall,  however,  be  deemed  a
proper  compliance  with  this Section and shall qualify such
road district for an allotment  under  this  Section.   If  a
township  has  transferred  to the road and bridge fund money
which, when added to the amount of any tax levy of  the  road
district  would  be  the  equivalent  of a tax levy requiring
extension at a rate of at least .08%,  or, in DuPage  County,
an  amount  equal to or greater than $12,000 per mile of road
under the jurisdiction of the  road  district,  whichever  is
less,  such  transfer, together with any such tax levy, shall
be deemed a proper compliance with  this  Section  and  shall
qualify  the  road  district  for  an  allotment  under  this
Section.
    In  counties in which a property tax extension limitation
is imposed under the Property Tax Extension  Limitation  Law,
road  districts  may retain their entitlement to a motor fuel
tax allotment if, at the  time  the  property  tax  extension
limitation  was imposed, the road district was levying a road
and bridge tax at a rate sufficient to entitle it to a  motor
fuel   tax  allotment  and  continues  to  levy  the  maximum
allowable amount after the imposition  of  the  property  tax
extension   limitation.    Any   road  district  may  in  all
circumstances retain its entitlement  to  a  motor  fuel  tax
allotment  if  it  levied  a road and bridge tax in an amount
that will require  the  extension  of  the  tax  against  the
taxable  property  in the road district at a rate of not less
than 0.08% of the assessed value of the property, based  upon
the assessment for the year immediately preceding the year in
which  the  tax was levied and as equalized by the Department
of Revenue or, in  DuPage  County,  an  amount  equal  to  or
greater  than $12,000 per mile of road under the jurisdiction
of the road district, whichever is less.
    As used in this Section the term  "road  district"  means
any  road  district,  including  a county unit road district,
provided for by the  Illinois  Highway  Code;  and  the  term
"township  or  district  road" means any road in the township
and district road system as defined in the  Illinois  Highway
Code.  For the purposes of this Section, "road district" also
includes   park  districts,  forest  preserve  districts  and
conservation  districts  organized  under  Illinois  law  and
"township or district road" also includes such roads  as  are
maintained  by  park districts, forest preserve districts and
conservation districts.   The  Department  of  Transportation
shall  determine  the  mileage  of  all township and district
roads for the purposes of making allotments  and  allocations
of motor fuel tax funds for use in road districts.
    Payment  of  motor  fuel tax moneys to municipalities and
counties  shall  be  made  as  soon  as  possible  after  the
allotment is made.  The  treasurer  of  the  municipality  or
county may invest these funds until their use is required and
the  interest earned by these investments shall be limited to
the same uses as the principal funds.
(Source: P.A.  89-167,  eff.  1-1-96;  89-445,  eff.  2-7-96;
89-699, eff. 1-16-97; 90-110, eff. 7-14-97; revised 8-14-97.)

    Section  10.   The  Illinois  Vehicle  Code is amended by
changing Sections 18c-7401, 18c-7502, 18c-7503 as follows:
    (625 ILCS 5/18c-7401) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 18c-7401)
    Sec.   18c-7401.    Safety   Requirements   for    Track,
Facilities, and Equipment.
    (1)  General   Requirements.  Each  rail  carrier  shall,
consistent with rules, orders, and regulations of the Federal
Railroad Administration, construct, maintain, and operate all
of its equipment, track, and other property in this State  in
such  a  manner  as to pose no undue risk to its employees or
the person or property of any member of the public.
    (2)  Adoption of  Federal  Standards.  The  track  safety
standards  and accident/incident standards promulgated by the
Federal Railroad Administration shall be safety standards  of
the  Commission.   The  Commission may, in addition, adopt by
reference in its regulations other  federal  railroad  safety
standards,  whether  contained  in  federal  statutes  or  in
regulations adopted pursuant to such statutes.
    (3)  Railroad  Crossings.  No  public  road,  highway, or
street shall hereafter be constructed across the track of any
rail carrier at grade,  nor  shall  the  track  of  any  rail
carrier  be  constructed  across  a  public  road, highway or
street at grade, without having first secured the  permission
of  the  Commission;  provided,  that  this Section shall not
apply to the replacement of lawfully existing roads, highways
and tracks.  The Commission shall have the  right  to  refuse
its  permission or to grant it upon such terms and conditions
as it may prescribe.  The  Commission  shall  have  power  to
determine  and prescribe the manner, including the particular
point of crossing, and the terms of installation,  operation,
maintenance, use and protection of each such crossing.
    The Commission shall also have power, after a hearing, to
require  major  alteration  of  or  to  abolish any crossing,
heretofore or hereafter established, when in its opinion, the
public safety requires such  alteration  or  abolition,  and,
except   in   cities,  villages  and  incorporated  towns  of
1,000,000 or more inhabitants, to vacate and close that  part
of  the  highway  on  such  crossing altered or abolished and
cause barricades to be erected across such  highway  in  such
manner  as  to prevent the use of such crossing as a highway,
when,  in  the  opinion  of  the   Commission,   the   public
convenience served by the crossing in question is not such as
to  justify  the  further  retention thereof; or to require a
separation of grades, at such  crossings;  or  to  require  a
separation  of  grades  at  any  proposed  crossing  where  a
proposed  public  highway  may  cross  the tracks of any rail
carrier or carriers; and to prescribe, after a hearing of the
parties, the terms upon which such separations shall be  made
and  the proportion in which the expense of the alteration or
abolition of such crossings or the separation of such grades,
having regard to the benefits, if any, accruing to  the  rail
carrier  or  any  party in interest, shall be divided between
the rail  carrier  or  carriers  affected,  or  between  such
carrier  or  carriers  and the State, county, municipality or
other public  authority  in  interest.    However,  a  public
hearing  by the Commission to abolish a crossing shall not be
required  when  the  public  highway  authority  in  interest
vacates the highway.  In  such  instance  the  rail  carrier,
following  notification  to  the  Commission  and the highway
authority, shall remove any grade  crossing  warning  devices
and the grade crossing surface.
    The  Commission  shall  also  have  power by its order to
require   the   reconstruction,   minor   alteration,   minor
relocation or improvement  of  any  crossing  (including  the
necessary  highway approaches thereto) of any railroad across
any highway or public road, whether such crossing be at grade
or  by  overhead  structure  or  by  subway,   whenever   the
Commission  finds  after  a  hearing  or without a hearing as
otherwise   provided   in   this    paragraph    that    such
reconstruction,  alteration,  relocation  or  improvement  is
necessary to preserve or promote the safety or convenience of
the  public  or  of  the employees or passengers of such rail
carrier or carriers.  By its original order  or  supplemental
orders   in   such  case,  the  Commission  may  direct  such
reconstruction, alteration, relocation, or improvement to  be
made in such manner and upon such terms and conditions as may
be  reasonable  and  necessary  and may apportion the cost of
such reconstruction, alteration,  relocation  or  improvement
and  the subsequent maintenance thereof, having regard to the
benefits, if any, accruing to the railroad or  any  party  in
interest,  between  the  rail  carrier or carriers and public
utilities affected, or between such carrier or  carriers  and
public utilities and the State, county, municipality or other
public  authority in interest.  The cost to be so apportioned
shall include the cost  of  changes  or  alterations  in  the
equipment of public utilities affected as well as the cost of
the  relocation,  diversion  or  establishment  of any public
highway, made necessary by such  reconstruction,  alteration,
relocation  or improvement of said crossing.  A hearing shall
not be required in those instances when the Commission enters
an order  confirming  a  written  stipulation  in  which  the
Commission,  the  public  highway  authority in interest, the
rail carrier or carriers affected, and in instances involving
the use of the Grade Crossing Protection Fund,  the  Illinois
Department  of  Transportation,  agree on the reconstruction,
alteration, relocation, or  improvement  and  the  subsequent
maintenance thereof and the division of costs of such changes
of  any  grade  crossing  (including  the  necessary  highway
approaches thereto) of any railroad across any highway.
    Every  rail  carrier  operating  in the State of Illinois
shall construct and maintain every highway crossing over  its
tracks   within   the  State  so  that  the  roadway  at  the
intersection  shall  be  as   flush   with   the   rails   as
superelevated   curves  will  allow,  and,  unless  otherwise
ordered by the Commission, shall construct and  maintain  the
approaches  thereto at a grade of not more than 5% within the
right of way for a distance of not less the 6  feet  on  each
side  of  the  centerline  of such tracks; provided, that the
grades at the approaches may be maintained in  excess  of  5%
only when authorized by the Commission.
    Every  rail  carrier  operating  within  this State shall
remove from its right of way at all  grade  crossings  within
the  State, such brush, shrubbery, and trees as is reasonably
practical for a distance of not less than 500 feet in  either
direction from each grade crossing. The Commission shall have
power,  upon  its  own  motion,  or upon complaint, and after
having made proper investigation, to require the installation
of  adequate  and  appropriate  luminous  reflective  warning
signs, luminous flashing signals, crossing gates  illuminated
at night, or other protective devices in order to promote and
safeguard  the  health  and  safety  of  the public. Luminous
flashing signal or crossing gate devices installed  at  grade
crossings,  which have been approved by the Commission, shall
be deemed adequate and appropriate. The Commission shall have
authority to determine the number, type, and location of such
signs, signals, gates, or  other  protective  devices  which,
however,  shall  conform  as  near  as  may be with generally
recognized national standards, and the Commission shall  have
authority  to  prescribe  the  division  of  the  cost of the
installation  and  subsequent  maintenance  of  such   signs,
signals,  gates, or other protective devices between the rail
carrier  or  carriers,  the  public  highway   authority   in
interest,  and  in  instances  involving the use of the Grade
Crossing  Protection  Fund,  the   Illinois   Department   of
Transportation.
    No  railroad  may  change  or  modify  the warning device
system  at  a  railroad-highway  grade  crossing,   including
warning  systems  interconnected with highway traffic control
signals, without having first received the  approval  of  the
Commission.   The  Commission  shall  have the further power,
upon application, upon its own motion, or upon complaint  and
after  having  made  proper  investigation,  to  require  the
interconnection   of  grade  crossing  warning  devices  with
traffic control signals at highway intersections  located  at
or  near railroad crossings within the distances described by
the State Manual on Uniform Traffic Control  Devices  adopted
pursuant  to Section 11-301 of this Code.  In addition, State
and local authorities may not install, remove, modernize,  or
otherwise   modify  traffic  control  signals  at  a  highway
intersection  that  is  interconnected  or  proposed  to   be
interconnected  with  grade crossing warning devices when the
change affects the  number,  type,  or  location  of  traffic
control  devices  on  the  track  approach leg or legs of the
intersection  or  the  timing  of  the  railroad   preemption
sequence  of  operation until the Commission has approved the
installation,  removal,   modernization,   or   modification.
Commission  approval  shall  be  limited  to consideration of
issues  directly  affecting  the   public   safety   at   the
railroad-highway  grade  crossing.   The  electrical  circuit
devices,  alternate warning devices, and preemption sequences
shall  conform  as  nearly  as  possible,   considering   the
particular  characteristics  of the crossing and intersection
area, to the State manual adopted by the Illinois  Department
of Transportation pursuant to Section 11-301 of this Code and
such  federal  standards as are made applicable by subsection
(2) of this Section.  In order to carry out  this  authority,
the  Commission  shall  have  the  authority to determine the
number, type, and location of traffic control devices on  the
track approach leg or legs of the intersection and the timing
of  the  railroad  preemption   sequence  of  operation.  The
Commission   shall   prescribe  the  division  of  costs  for
installation and maintenance of all devices required by  this
paragraph  between  the railroad or railroads and the highway
authority in interest and in instances involving the  use  of
the  Grade  Crossing  Protection Fund or a State highway, the
Illinois Department of Transportation.
    Any person who unlawfully or maliciously removes,  throws
down,  damages  or  defaces  any  sign, signal, gate or other
protective device,  located  at  or  near  any  public  grade
crossing,  shall  be  guilty of a petty offense and fined not
less than $50 nor  more  than  $200  for  each  offense.   In
addition to fines levied under the provisions of this Section
a  person  adjudged  guilty hereunder may also be directed to
make restitution for the costs of repair or  replacement,  or
both, necessitated by his misconduct.
    It  is  the  public  policy  of  the State of Illinois to
enhance public safety by establishing safe  grade  crossings.
In  order  to  implement  this  policy, the Illinois Commerce
Commission is directed to  conduct  public  hearings  and  to
adopt  specific  criteria  by  July  1,  1994,  that shall be
adhered to by the Illinois Commerce Commission in determining
if a grade crossing  should  be  opened  or  abolished.   The
following   factors  shall  be  considered  by  the  Illinois
Commerce Commission in developing the specific  criteria  for
opening and abolishing grade crossings:
         (a)  timetable speed of passenger trains;
         (b)  distance to an alternate crossing;
         (c)  accident history for the last 5 years;
         (d)  number  of  vehicular  traffic and posted speed
    limits;
         (e)  number of freight trains  and  their  timetable
    speeds;
         (f)  the type of warning device present at the grade
    crossing;
         (g)  alignments of the roadway and railroad, and the
    angle of intersection of those alignments;
         (h)  use  of  the  grade crossing by trucks carrying
    hazardous materials,  vehicles  carrying  passengers  for
    hire, and school buses; and
         (i)  use   of   the   grade  crossing  by  emergency
    vehicles.
    The Illinois Commerce Commission, upon petition  to  open
or  abolish a grade crossing, shall enter an order opening or
abolishing the crossing if it  meets  the  specific  criteria
adopted by the Commission.
    Except  as  otherwise provided in this subsection (3), in
no instance shall a  grade  crossing  be  permanently  closed
without  public  hearing  first being held and notice of such
hearing being published in an area newspaper of local general
circulation.
    (4)  Freight   Trains   -   Radio   Communications.   The
Commission shall after hearing and order require  that  every
main  line  railroad  freight  train operating on main tracks
outside of yard limits within this State  shall  be  equipped
with  a  radio  communication  system.   The Commission after
notice and hearing may grant exemptions from the requirements
of this Section as to secondary and branch lines.
    (5)  Railroad  Bridges  and  Trestles   -   Walkway   and
Handrail.  In cases in which the Commission finds the same to
be practical and necessary for safety of railroad  employees,
bridges and trestles, over and upon which railroad trains are
operated,  shall  include  as  a  part  thereof,  a  safe and
suitable walkway and handrail on one side only of such bridge
or trestle, and such handrail shall be located at  the  outer
edge of the walkway and shall provide a clearance of not less
than  8  feet,  6 inches, from the center line of the nearest
track, measured at right angles thereto.
    (6)  Packages  Containing  Articles  for  First  Aid   to
Injured  on Trains. All rail carriers shall provide a package
containing the articles prescribed by the Commission, on each
train or engine, for first aid to persons who may be  injured
in the course of the operation of such trains.
    (7)  Abandoned  Bridges, Crossings, and Other Rail Plant.
The  Commission  shall  have  authority,  after  notice   and
hearing, to order:
         (a)  The  removal  of  any abandoned railroad tracks
    from roads, streets or other thoroughfares in this State;
    and
         (b)  The  removal  of  abandoned  overhead  railroad
    structures crossing highways, waterways, or railroads.
    The Commission may equitably apportion the cost  of  such
actions   between   the  rail  carrier  or  carriers,  public
utilities, and the  State,  county,  municipality,  township,
road district, or other public authority in interest.
    (8)  Railroad-Highway   Bridge   Clearance.   A  vertical
clearance of not less than 23 feet  above  the  top  of  rail
shall  be  provided  for  all  new  or  reconstructed highway
bridges constructed over a railroad  track.   The  Commission
may  permit  a  lesser clearance if it determines that the 23
foot  clearance  standard  cannot  be  justified   based   on
engineering, operational, and economic conditions.
(Source: P.A. 88-296; 89-699, eff. 1-16-97.)

    (625 ILCS 5/18c-7502) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 18c-7502)
    Sec.  18c-7502.   Malicious  Removal of or Damage to Rail
Property. Any person found to have  removed,  taken,  stolen,
changed,  added  to,  taken from, or in any manner interfered
with any of the parts or attachments  of  any  locomotive  or
car,  or  any plant or property used in or in connection with
the operation of any locomotive or car in this State, or  any
person  who  causes or attempts to cause the derailment of an
engine, cars, or a track vehicle  used  on  railroad  tracks,
shall  be  guilty of a Class 4 felony.  If any such action is
malicious and is the cause of wrecking any train, locomotive,
or car in this State whereby the life of any person is  lost,
the  person  found  guilty  thereof shall be liable for first
degree murder as in other cases.
(Source: P.A. 85-293.)

    (625 ILCS 5/18c-7503) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 18c-7503)
    Sec. 18c-7503.  Trespass on Railroad Rights  of  Way  and
Yards. (1) Trespass on Rights of Way and Yards Prohibited.
    (a)  General Prohibition. Except as otherwise provided in
paragraph  (b)  of this subsection, no person may walk, ride,
drive or be upon or along the right of way or rail yard of  a
rail carrier within the State, at a place other than a public
crossing.
    (b)  Exceptions. This subsection shall not apply to:
    (i)  passengers on trains or employees of a rail carrier;
    (ii)  an   authorized   representative  of  rail  carrier
employees, while performing  required  duties  in  accordance
with reasonable rail carrier company guidelines;
    (iii)  a  person  going upon the right of way or into the
rail yard to save human life or to protect property;
    (iv)  a person being on the station  grounds  or  in  the
depot  of  the  rail  carrier  for the purpose of transacting
business;
    (v)  a person, his family, or  his  employees  or  agents
going across a farm crossing, as defined in this Chapter, for
the  purpose  of  crossing from one part to another part of a
farm he owns or leases, where the farm lies on both sides  of
the right of way;
    (vi)  a  person  having  written permission from the rail
carrier to go upon the right of way or into  the  rail  yard;
and
    (vii)  representatives  of state and federal governmental
agencies in performance of their official duties.
    (2)  Penalties. Violation of this Section  shall  subject
the violator to a fine line of not more than $500.
    (3)  Definition.   For purposes of this Section, a "right
of way" means the track or roadbed owned or leased by a  rail
carrier  which  is  located  on either side of its tracks and
which is readily recognizable to a reasonable person as being
rail carrier property or is reasonably identified as such  by
fencing or appropriate signs.
(Source: P.A. 84-796; revised 12-18-97.)
                            INDEX
           Statutes amended in order of appearance
35 ILCS 505/8             from Ch. 120, par. 424
625 ILCS 5/18c-7401       from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 18c-7401
625 ILCS 5/18c-7502       from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 18c-7502
625 ILCS 5/18c-7503       from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 18c-7503
625 ILCS 5/18c-7504       from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 18c-7504

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