1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to transportation; railroads; modifying penalties for blocking public roads 
1.3 	or streets;amending Minnesota Statutes 2012, sections 218.071, subdivisions 2, 
1.4 	3, 4; 219.383, subdivision 3.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 218.071, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
1.7 		Subd. 2.Violations generally; penalty. Unless a different penalty or punishment is 
1.8 	specifically prescribed, any ~~person,~~ firm~~,~~ or corporation who performs any unlawful act, or 
1.9 	fails to perform any duty imposed by this chapter, or to obey any valid and final order, 
1.10 	rule, or directive of the commissioner, or who assists and aids therein, shall be guilty of 
1.11 	a gross misdemeanor, and, if the violation be a continuing one, shall be guilty of a new 
1.12 	offense for each day of such continuance, and for each offense shall be punished by a fine 
1.13 	of ~~one hundred dollars ($100)~~ $1,000. A continuing offense or a second or subsequent 
1.14 	offense under this section shall be punished by a fine of $1,000 for each offense, with 
1.15 	the cumulative fine not to exceed $10,000.

1.16 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 218.071, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
1.17 		Subd. 3.Discriminatory practices; penalty. Any common carrier ordering or 
1.18 	willfully blocking a public grade crossing for more than ten minutes, or willfully granting 
1.19 	any special rate, rebate, drawback, or directly or indirectly charging, demanding or 
1.20 	collecting a greater or less compensation than provided by its regular established schedule 
1.21 	of rates and charges, shall be punished by a fine not exceeding $10,000 for each such 
1.22 	offense.

2.1 	Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 218.071, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
2.2 		Subd. 4.Failure to comply; penalty. Any common carrier failing to comply with 
2.3 	any order of the commissioner shall be subject to a penalty of ~~fifty dollars ($50)~~ $1,000
2.4 	 for each and every day of such failure to comply, to be recovered for the state in a civil 
2.5 	action by the commissioner.

2.6 	Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 219.383, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
2.7 		Subd. 3.Not to block public road or street. No railway corporation shall permit 
2.8 	a public road or street crossing a railroad track to be closed for traffic by a standing 
2.9 	car, train, engine, or other railroad equipment, or by a switching movement which 
2.10 	continuously blocks a crossing for longer than ten minutes. A violation or charge under 
2.11 	this section shall be issued only against a railroad common carrier. The charging or 
2.12 	prosecuting jurisdiction shall serve or present notice of a violation or charge under this 
2.13 	section directly on the railroad common carrier's general manager or superintendent's 
2.14 	office in Minnesota. This subdivision does not apply to cities of the first class which 
2.15 	regulate obstruction of streets by ordinance.

2.16 	Sec. 5. EFFECTIVE DATE.
 2.17 	Sections 1 to 4 are effective the day following final enactment.