{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-json\/56-405.2.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-text\/56-405.2.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-xml\/56-405.2.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-html\/56-405.2.html"}],"law_id":370361,"edition_id":2,"section_id":370361,"structure_id":52750,"section_number":"56-405.2","catch_line":"Construction and maintenance of crossbucks","history":"1977, c. 226; 1996, cc. 114, 157.","full_text":"Every railroad company shall cause signal boards, hereinafter referred to as crossbucks, well supported by posts or otherwise and approved by the Department of Transportation at such heights as to be easily seen by travelers from both directions of the public highway, and not obstructing travel, containing in capital letters, at least five inches high, the inscription “railroad crossing,” to be placed, and constantly maintained, at each public highway at or near, and on both sides of, each place where it is crossed by the railroad at the same level. The requirements of this section in localities that maintain their own streets may be waived at specific crossings on the petition of any such company to both the Commissioner of Highways and the public road authority if both the Commissioner and the public road authority determine that any such crossing has or will have other adequate warning devices or that the placement of new crossbucks will not enhance the safety of the traveling public. Neither official action nor failure to act as hereinabove provided shall impair the power of the Commissioner or the public road authority to require crossbucks at specific public crossings should a subsequent determination of their need be made.\n\nThe cost of erecting crossbucks placed at a public highway for the first time or whenever the Commissioner or the public road authority determines an upgrade of the standards is required may be paid or supplemented from federal funds when available to the Department of Transportation for such purpose at the sole discretion of the Commissioner of Highways. But the election of the Commissioner not to participate in such cost shall not relieve any company from the obligation of this section.\n\nThis section shall apply as to cities and towns in the case of new crossbucks beginning July 1, 1977.\n\n","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":1381542,"text":"Every railroad company shall cause signal boards, hereinafter referred to as crossbucks, well supported by posts or otherwise and approved by the Department of Transportation at such heights as to be easily seen by travelers from both directions of the public highway, and not obstructing travel, containing in capital letters, at least five inches high, the inscription “railroad crossing,” to be placed, and constantly maintained, at each public highway at or near, and on both sides of, each place where it is crossed by the railroad at the same level. The requirements of this section in localities that maintain their own streets may be waived at specific crossings on the petition of any such company to both the Commissioner of Highways and the public road authority if both the Commissioner and the public road authority determine that any such crossing has or will have other adequate warning devices or that the placement of new crossbucks will not enhance the safety of the traveling public. Neither official action nor failure to act as hereinabove provided shall impair the power of the Commissioner or the public road authority to require crossbucks at specific public crossings should a subsequent determination of their need be made.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"next_prefix":""},"1":{"id":1381543,"text":"The cost of erecting crossbucks placed at a public highway for the first time or whenever the Commissioner or the public road authority determines an upgrade of the standards is required may be paid or supplemented from federal funds when available to the Department of Transportation for such purpose at the sole discretion of the Commissioner of Highways. But the election of the Commissioner not to participate in such cost shall not relieve any company from the obligation of this section.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"prior_prefix":"","next_prefix":""},"2":{"id":1381544,"text":"This section shall apply as to cities and towns in the case of new crossbucks beginning July 1, 1977.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"prior_prefix":""}},"ancestry":[{"id":52750,"edition_id":2,"name":"Highway Crossings","identifier":"6","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":6,"parent_id":52743,"metadata":{"child_laws":17,"child_structures":0},"date_created":"2026-08-02 03:04:05","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:35:42","permalink":{"id":1476609,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":52750,"identifier":"6","token":"56\/13\/6","url":"\/56\/13\/6\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":52743,"edition_id":2,"name":"Railroad Corporations","identifier":"13","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":27,"parent_id":52702,"metadata":{"child_laws":86,"child_structures":11},"date_created":"2026-08-02 03:03:58","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:35:41","permalink":{"id":1476441,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":52743,"identifier":"13","token":"56\/13","url":"\/56\/13\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":52702,"edition_id":2,"name":"Public Service Companies","identifier":"56","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":121,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{"child_laws":710,"child_structures":93},"date_created":"2026-08-02 03:03:25","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:35:34","permalink":{"id":1475475,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":52702,"identifier":"56","token":"56","url":"\/56\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":370363,"structure_id":52750,"section_number":"56-405","catch_line":"Railroad companies to maintain grade crossings of public highways and approaches; repair by Commissioner of Highways or public road authority; recovery of cost from railroad company","url":"\/56-405\/","token":"56\/13\/6\/56-405","metadata":false},{"id":370358,"structure_id":52750,"section_number":"56-405.01","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/56-405.01\/","token":"56\/13\/6\/56-405.01","metadata":false},{"id":370359,"structure_id":52750,"section_number":"56-405.02","catch_line":"Railroads to adjust certain public highways at grade crossings","url":"\/56-405.02\/","token":"56\/13\/6\/56-405.02","metadata":false},{"id":370360,"structure_id":52750,"section_number":"56-405.1","catch_line":"Agreements with Commissioner of Highways or public road authority representative for maintenance and repair of public grade crossings","url":"\/56-405.1\/","token":"56\/13\/6\/56-405.1","metadata":false},{"id":370361,"structure_id":52750,"section_number":"56-405.2","catch_line":"Construction and maintenance of crossbucks","url":"\/56-405.2\/","token":"56\/13\/6\/56-405.2","metadata":false},{"id":370362,"structure_id":52750,"section_number":"56-405.3","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/56-405.3\/","token":"56\/13\/6\/56-405.3","metadata":false},{"id":370366,"structure_id":52750,"section_number":"56-406","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/56-406\/","token":"56\/13\/6\/56-406","metadata":false},{"id":370364,"structure_id":52750,"section_number":"56-406.1","catch_line":"Proceedings for installation and maintenance of automatically operated gates, signals and other automatic crossing warning devices","url":"\/56-406.1\/","token":"56\/13\/6\/56-406.1","metadata":false},{"id":370365,"structure_id":52750,"section_number":"56-406.2","catch_line":"Proceeding for fixing cost of maintaining such warning devices at public grade crossings","url":"\/56-406.2\/","token":"56\/13\/6\/56-406.2","metadata":false},{"id":370367,"structure_id":52750,"section_number":"56-407","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/56-407\/","token":"56\/13\/6\/56-407","metadata":false},{"id":370368,"structure_id":52750,"section_number":"56-408","catch_line":"Signs similar to crossing signs prohibited","url":"\/56-408\/","token":"56\/13\/6\/56-408","metadata":false},{"id":370369,"structure_id":52750,"section_number":"56-409","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/56-409\/","token":"56\/13\/6\/56-409","metadata":false},{"id":370372,"structure_id":52750,"section_number":"56-411","catch_line":"Removal of brush and trees from right-of-way","url":"\/56-411\/","token":"56\/13\/6\/56-411","metadata":false},{"id":370376,"structure_id":52750,"section_number":"56-412","catch_line":"When trains shall be stopped before getting to railroad crossing","url":"\/56-412\/","token":"56\/13\/6\/56-412","metadata":false},{"id":370373,"structure_id":52750,"section_number":"56-412.1","catch_line":"Railroad cars obstructing street or road; standing vehicle on railroad track","url":"\/56-412.1\/","token":"56\/13\/6\/56-412.1","metadata":false},{"id":370374,"structure_id":52750,"section_number":"56-412.2","catch_line":"Ordinances conflicting with \u00a7 56-412.1","url":"\/56-412.2\/","token":"56\/13\/6\/56-412.2","metadata":false},{"id":370375,"structure_id":52750,"section_number":"56-412.3","catch_line":"Maintenance of certain roadways by Buchanan County","url":"\/56-412.3\/","token":"56\/13\/6\/56-412.3","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":370360,"structure_id":52750,"section_number":"56-405.1","catch_line":"Agreements with Commissioner of Highways or public road authority representative for maintenance and repair of public grade crossings","url":"\/56-405.1\/","token":"56\/13\/6\/56-405.1","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":370362,"structure_id":52750,"section_number":"56-405.3","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/56-405.3\/","token":"56\/13\/6\/56-405.3","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/56-405.2\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1977. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 226 of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. Unfortunately, the 1977 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 1 time. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. That modification is as follows: in 1996, chapters 114<\/a> and 157<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":370368,"section_number":"56-408","catch_line":"Signs similar to crossing signs prohibited","order_by":null,"url":"\/56-408\/"}],"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":1476627,"object_type":"law","relational_id":370361,"identifier":"56-405.2","token":"56\/13\/6\/56-405.2","url":"\/56-405.2\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/56-405.2\/","token":"56\/13\/6\/56-405.2","dublin_core":{"Title":"Construction and maintenance of crossbucks","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 56-405.2","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

Every railroad company<\/span> shall cause signal boards, hereinafter referred to as crossbucks, well supported by posts or otherwise and approved by the Department of Transportation at such heights as to be easily seen by travelers from both directions of the public highway<\/span>, and not obstructing travel, containing in capital letters, at least five inches high, the inscription “railroad crossing,” to be placed, and constantly maintained, at each public highway<\/span> at or near, and on both sides of, each place where it is crossed by the railroad at the same level. The requirements of this section in localities that maintain their own streets may be waived at specific crossings on the petition<\/span> of any such company to both the Commissioner of Highways<\/span> and the public road authority if both the Commissioner and the public road authority determine that any such crossing has or will have other adequate warning devices or that the placement of new crossbucks will not enhance the safety of the traveling public. Neither official action nor failure to act as hereinabove provided shall impair the power of the Commissioner or the public road authority to require crossbucks at specific public crossings should a subsequent determination of their need be made.<\/p>

The cost of erecting crossbucks placed at a public highway<\/span> for the first time or whenever the Commissioner or the public road authority determines an upgrade of the standards is required may be paid or supplemented from federal funds when available to the Department of Transportation for such purpose at the sole discretion of the Commissioner of Highways<\/span>. But the election of the Commissioner not to participate in such cost shall not relieve any company from the obligation of this section.<\/p>

This section shall apply as to cities and towns in the case of new crossbucks beginning July 1, 1977.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nCONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF CROSSBUCKS (\u00a7 56-405.2)\n\nEvery railroad company shall cause signal boards, hereinafter referred to as\ncrossbucks, well supported by posts or otherwise and approved by the Department\nof Transportation at such heights as to be easily seen by travelers from both\ndirections of the public highway, and not obstructing travel, containing in\ncapital letters, at least five inches high, the inscription “railroad\ncrossing,” to be placed, and constantly maintained, at each public highway\nat or near, and on both sides of, each place where it is crossed by the railroad\nat the same level. The requirements of this section in localities that maintain\ntheir own streets may be waived at specific crossings on the petition of any\nsuch company to both the Commissioner of Highways and the public road authority\nif both the Commissioner and the public road authority determine that any such\ncrossing has or will have other adequate warning devices or that the placement\nof new crossbucks will not enhance the safety of the traveling public. Neither\nofficial action nor failure to act as hereinabove provided shall impair the\npower of the Commissioner or the public road authority to require crossbucks at\nspecific public crossings should a subsequent determination of their need be\nmade.\n\nThe cost of erecting crossbucks placed at a public highway for the first time or\nwhenever the Commissioner or the public road authority determines an upgrade of\nthe standards is required may be paid or supplemented from federal funds when\navailable to the Department of Transportation for such purpose at the sole\ndiscretion of the Commissioner of Highways. But the election of the Commissioner\nnot to participate in such cost shall not relieve any company from the\nobligation of this section.\n\nThis section shall apply as to cities and towns in the case of new crossbucks\nbeginning July 1, 1977.\n\nHISTORY: 1977, c. 226; 1996, cc. 114, 157.","edition":{"id":2,"name":"2026","slug":"2026","date_created":"2026-07-16 18:40:23","date_modified":"2026-08-02 15:14:36","current":1,"order_by":2,"last_import":"2026-08-02 12:37:30"}}