Each
railroad company shall keep its right-of-way clear of all brush
and timber in the vicinity of a railroad grade crossing with a
county road for a distance of one hundred feet from the crossing
in such a manner as to permit a person upon the road to obtain an
unobstructed view in both directions of an approaching train. The county legislative authority shall cause brush and timber to
be cleared from the right-of-way of county roads in the proximity
of a railroad grade crossing for a distance of one hundred feet
from the crossing in such a manner as to permit a person
traveling upon the road to obtain an unobstructed view in both
directions of an approaching train. It is unlawful to erect or
maintain a sign, signboard, or billboard within a distance of one
hundred feet from the point of intersection of the road and
railroad grade crossing located outside the corporate limits of
any city or town unless, after thirty days notice to the
Washington utilities and transportation commission and the
railroad operating the crossing, the county legislative authority
determines that it does not obscure the sight distance of a
person operating a vehicle or train approaching the grade
crossing.
When a person who has erected or who maintains such a sign,
signboard, or billboard or when a railroad company permits such
brush or timber in the vicinity of a railroad grade crossing with
a county road or permits the surface of a grade crossing to
become inconvenient or dangerous for passage and who has the duty
to maintain it, fails, neglects, or refuses to remove or cause to
be removed such brush, timber, sign, signboard, or billboard, or
maintain the surface of the crossing, the utilities and
transportation commission upon complaint of the county
legislative authority or upon complaint of any party interested,
or upon its own motion, shall enter upon a hearing in the manner
now provided for hearings with respect to railroad-highway grade
crossings, and make and enforce proper orders for the removal of
the brush, timber, sign, signboard or billboard, or maintenance
of the crossing. Nothing in this section prevents the posting or
maintaining thereon of highway or road signs or traffic devices
giving directions or distances for the information of the public
when the signs conform to the "Manual for Uniform Traffic Control
Devices" issued by the state department of transportation. The
county legislative authority shall inspect highway grade
crossings and make complaint of the violation of any provisions
of this section.
[1983 c 19 § 1; 1963 c 4 § 36.86.100. Prior: 1955 c 310 § 6.]
NOTES:
Railroad crossings, obstructions: RCW 47.32.140.