§ 49-11-21 — Warning device sounded at crossing by locomotive - Exceptions

1. A warning device must be placed on each locomotive engine and the device on the
lead locomotive must be sounded when approaching a public railroad crossing, and
must continue to be sounded until the locomotive enters the public railroad crossing.
2. The warning device may not be sounded at a private railroad crossing. However, a
party may petition the commission to request that a horn be sounded at a private
railroad crossing. The commission shall review the request and issue an order
approving or denying the request based on the safety concerns of the public. A party
may not be subject to any liability as a result of not making a request.
3. The governing body of a city may adopt a quiet zone ordinance, as allowed by federal
law and implemented under the federal railroad administration's supplemental safety
measures for at-grade crossings, prohibiting a locomotive engine from sounding a
warning device at crossings within the quiet zone under regular crossing conditions.
4. Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, a locomotive engineer may sound
a locomotive horn at any crossing to provide a warning to animals, vehicle operators,
pedestrians, trespassers, or crews on other trains in an emergency situation if in the
locomotive engineer's judgment the action is appropriate to prevent imminent injury,
death, or property damage.