San Mateo County Municipal Code Ch. 7.68 Railroad Crossings

It shall be unlawful for any person who is in charge of any railroad train, car or locomotive to permit or cause such railroad train, car or locomotive to obstruct space necessary for the free and simultaneous crossing of motor vehicles in both directions at any crossing of a railroad and a public road or highway for a period longer than five (5) minutes at any place within the unincorporated areas of the County of San Mateo.

(Prior code § 3752.0; Ord. 1026, 09/01/53)

(a) The continuous movement of any train of cars in one direction at the normal rate of speed, customarily used for trains in transit from one station to another, shall not be deemed an obstruction for the purposes of this chapter.

(b) This chapter shall not apply to any railroad conductor or engineer where he has no control over the situation causing the obstruction, or where the train cannot be moved without endangering the safety of passengers or freight.

(Prior code § 3752.1; Ord. 1026, 09/01/53)

When any emergency vehicle, including police and sheriff's cars, ambulances or fire trucks, approaches a railroad crossing across which a railroad train or cars are stopped, on any public road within the unincorporated areas of the County of San Mateo, the person in charge of the said train or cars shall break or move the train or remove the cars so as to permit the emergency vehicle to cross with all practicable speed. Failure to do so shall be unlawful.

(Prior code § 3752.2; Ord. 1026, 09/01/53)