Georgia Railroad Crossing Laws

How Georgia handles grade crossings

Georgia is strict on paper. Any bus (for hire or not), any school bus loaded or empty, a vehicle carrying passengers for hire, and any hazmat load must stop 15 to 50 feet from the nearest rail (O.C.G.A. §40-6-142). Cross in one gear and don't shift on the tracks. Other trucks slow and check. Failure to stop is a misdemeanor worth 3 license points, and the FMCSA CDL disqualification (60 days, then 120, then a year) stacks on top (49 CFR 383.51).

Who stops, how far, and the CDL risk

• Who must stop: Placarded + buses
• Stop distance: Not less than 15 feet and not more than 50 feet from the nearest rail (O.C.G.A. §40-6-142), the federal 49 CFR 392.10 window.
• Clearance rule: Don't enter unless you can clear the tracks completely without stopping. Georgia law requires crossing in a single gear with no gear change while on the crossing (O.C.G.A. §40-6-142). Never get boxed in on the rails.
• Fine & CDL disqualification: A misdemeanor with 3 license points (O.C.G.A. §40-6-142; §40-6-1); local fines commonly run around $150 to $200 plus court costs. The FMCSA CDL disqualification stacks on top: at least 60 days for a first grade-crossing offense, 120 days for a second within 3 years, and 1 year for a third (49 CFR 383.51).

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