HB0420 - Rail Crossing Blocking Act

• Creates the Rail Crossing Blocking Act establishing penalties for physically blocking Essential Rail Crossings in municipalities with populations of 100,000 or more.

• Requires the Illinois Commerce Commission and Department of Transportation to conduct annual studies identifying railroad-highway grade crossings that, if blocked for over 10 minutes, would pose significant public safety concerns by impeding emergency, fire, and police access.

• Prohibits blocking Essential Rail Crossings for more than 10 minutes, with stricter restrictions in counties with populations exceeding 1,000,000 (maximum 10 minutes total during any 30-minute period during 7-9 AM and 4-6 PM hours).

• Establishes graduated penalties ranging from $600-$1,500 for 10-15 minute blockages (petty offense) to $1,500+ for longer blockages (business offense), with additional $500 fines for every 5 minutes exceeding 35 minutes.

• Deposits all collected fines into the Rail Crossing Blocking Fund to be used by the Department of Transportation for railroad crossing improvements and grants to railroads or entities reducing violations.