Los Angeles Municipal Code Art. 2 Railroads and Railways

Section 72.06 Trains – Lights On. 72.07 Trains – Flagger to Precede. 72.10 Trains – Speed. 72.10.1 Clearing Crossings. 72.11 Railroad Connections – Permits. 72.12 Regulation of Train Whistles. 72.16 Sprinkling or Oiling of Roadbed.

No person shall run, propel or operate any railroad car or train of railroad cars upon, along or across any street or across any railroad track, interurban railroad track or street railway track, during the period from one hour after sunset to one hour before sunrise, unless there is attached to such car or train on the end thereof toward the direction in which such car or train is proceeding, a bright white light visible in the direction in which such car or train is proceeding. Such light shall have a reflector equal in power to the kind usually and customarily used by car inspectors of steam railroads.

This section and Section 72.07 shall not apply to any car or train if a competent flagger precedes such car or train carrying a bright white light visible in the direction in which such car or train is proceeding, and shall not apply to any car or train when the same is crossing any street, any railroad track, interurban track or street railway track, if such street or track is, at the time of such crossing, protected by an interlocking device or apparatus.

Municipal Corporations may enact and enforce ordinances not inconsistent with the State law requiring lights on trains. 7 McQuillen, Municipal Corporations, 768, Sec. 24.710.

No person shall run, propel or operate any railroad car or train of railroad cars upon, along or across any street or across any railroad track, interurban railroad track or street railway track, during the period from one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset, unless a competent flagger shall proceed in advance of such car or train or shall be upon the end thereof toward which such car or train is proceeding. This section shall not apply to any car or train if a locomotive is attached to the end thereof toward which such car or train is proceeding.

(Amended by Ord. No. 173,301, Eff. 6/30/00, Oper. 7/1/00.)

No person operating a street railroad shall construct or maintain curved tracks connecting its tracks at any street intersection with the tracks of any other street railroad operated by the same person without first obtaining a permit therefor as provided in this section.

(a) Such person shall first make a written application, signed by the applicant which shall be filed with the Office of Finance and shall be accompanied by

(1) Payment of Twenty-seven dollars and fifty cents ($27.50) to cover the cost incident to the applicant. (Amended by Ord. No. 137,137, Eff.9/29/78.)

(2) A map or diagram showing in detail the location of the work to be done for which the application is sought, and all intersecting streets at the point of construction of the proposed work.

(b) At the next regular meeting of the Council after the filing of the application, the Office of Finance shall submit the same to the Council. Before any action is taken thereon, it shall be referred to the Board for its recommendation. The Board shall proceed to inquire into the application and within thirty days after such application shall have been referred to it, or longer if allowed by the Council, shall report to the Council its recommendation relative thereto. If, in the judgment of the Board, the application should not be granted, it shall so report, stating its reasons therefor; and if, in the judgment of the Board, the application should

be granted, it shall recommend the terms and conditions upon which it shall be granted. Permits shall not be granted by the Council contrary to the recommendation of the Board except upon two-thirds vote of the entire Council.

(c) Each permit granted under the provisions of this section shall be granted by ordinance and not otherwise and shall be revocable at the pleasure of the Council; provided that in no event shall such permit

continue for a period exceeding the unexpired term of the franchise first to expire under which street railway tracks are maintained at such street intersections; and provided further that in no event shall such permit continue for a period exceeding twenty-one years.

(d) Each such connection or connecting curve constructed or maintained under permission granted shall be at all times constructed and maintained in accordance with the restrictions and limitations contained in

Sec. 49 of the Civil Code of the State of California and in the ordinances of this City, and in accordance with the regulations prescribed by the Council in the ordinance granting such permission.

(e) The payment of the amount required by Subsection (a) hereof shall be deposited in the Treasury to the credit of the General Expense Fund.

It shall be unlawful and a public nuisance for any operator of a railroad train in the Mount Washington and Highland Park areas of the City of Los Angeles between the intersection of Figueroa Street and Marmion Way up to and including the area at the intersection of Figueroa and Avenue 61, to blow or otherwise activate, or permit to be blown or activated, any horn or whistle when approaching any railroad crossing at grade, protected by automatic crossing gates, EXCEPT in the case of any emergency. (Amended by Ord. No. 150,410, Eff. 1/20/78.)

It shall be the duty of every railroad and street railroad to so sprinkle with water, or treat with oil, or otherwise treat that part of the surface of each street occupied or used by its tracks between the rails and between the tracks and a strip two (2) feet in width on each side thereof, that dust will remain settled on said portions of such street when any train, car or rolling equipment is operated on such tracks; provided, however, that said requirement shall not apply when such streets are paved.