Ohio High Court Nixes Grade Crossing Law

An Ohio law seeking to prevent railroads from blocking grade crossings has been struck down by the Ohio Supreme Court.

The court ruled that regulation of railroads is a federal and not a state responsibility.

The opinion of the court, which was written by Justice Sharon Kennedy, noted that blocking grade crossings can create a public danger by preventing emergency workers from crossing tracks while on runs.

But Justice Kennedy said the federal government is the appropriate body to address that threat to public safety.

The Ohio law stemmed from numerous citations issued by police in 2018 in Marysville to CSX for blocking crossings while trains worked a Honda assembly plant there.

Tags: blocked grade crossings, CSX, grade crossings, Ohio laws, Ohio Supreme Court