Mississippi Railroad Crossing Laws

How Mississippi handles grade crossings

Mississippi lists who stops: any vehicle carrying passengers for hire and any vehicle hauling explosives or flammable liquids, 15 to 50 feet from the nearest rail (Miss. Code § 63-3-1011); school buses follow the separate stop law (§ 37-41-55). Placarded hazmat stops under the federal rule (49 CFR 392.10). Other CMVs slow and check (392.11). No shifting on the rails. A ticket runs up to $100 first offense (§ 63-9-11), and the FMCSA CDL disqualification, 60/120/365 days, 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 — the federal window (49 CFR 392.10), and the same figures Mississippi sets by statute (Miss. Code § 63-3-1011).
• Clearance rule: Never enter a crossing without room to clear the far side without stopping, and do not stop on the tracks. Cross in one gear and do not shift on the rails. The stop is excused only where an officer or a traffic-control signal waves you through (Miss. Code § 63-3-1011).
• Fine & CDL disqualification: A crossing-stop violation is a traffic misdemeanor: up to $100 for a first offense, up to $200 for a second within a year, and up to $500 for a third (Miss. Code § 63-9-11). 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 a year for a third (49 CFR 383.51).

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