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PRINTER'S NO. 535
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 539
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY SCHMITT AND METZGAR, FEBRUARY 10, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON CONSUMER PROTECTION, TECHNOLOGY AND
UTILITIES, FEBRUARY 10, 2025
AN ACT
Amending Title 66 (Public Utilities) of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes, in railroads, providing for train
length; and imposing penalties.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Title 66 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes is amended by adding a section to read:
§ 2710. Train length.
(a) Total length.--Except as provided in subsection (b), a
railroad may not operate a freight train in this Commonwealth
with a total length that exceeds 8,500 feet.
(b) Consistency with Federal law and regulations.--The
commission may promulgate rules and regulations providing an
exception to subsection (a), if the exception is required by
Federal law or regulation and the commission's rule or
regulation is consistent with the Federal law or regulation.
(c) Penalties.--A railroad that violates subsection (a)
shall be assessed a civil penalty in the following amounts:
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(1) A fine of not less than $5,000 nor more than $10,000
for a first offense.
(2) A fine of not less than $10,000 nor more than
$15,000 for a second offense committed within three years of
the first offense.
(3) A fine of not less than $15,000 nor more than
$20,000 for a third offense and subsequent offenses committed
within three years of the first offense.
(d) Deposit of penalties.--Notwithstanding section 3315
(relating to disposition of fines and penalties), a penalty
collected under this section shall be deposited into the General
Fund, deemed an augmentation to any appropriation to the
commission and used to administer and enforce this chapter.
(e) Definitions.--As used in this section, the following
words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this
subsection unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Freight locomotive." A railroad locomotive used exclusively
for the conveyance of property, regardless of whether coupled
with or without a rail car.
"Freight train." One or more freight locomotives coupled to
rail cars.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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