Approaching railroad grade crossings — Specific vehicles — Exceptions — Definition.
RCW 46.61.350
in effect(1)(a) The driver of any of the following vehicles must stop before the stop line, if present, and otherwise within fifty feet but not less than fifteen feet from the nearest rail at a railroad grade crossing unless exempt under subsection (3) of this section: (i) A school bus or private carrier bus carrying any school child or other passenger; (ii) A commercial motor vehicle transporting passengers; (iii) A cargo tank, whether loaded or empty, used for transporting any hazardous material as defined in the hazardous materials regulations of the United States department of transportation in 49 C.F.R. Parts 107 through 180 as it existed on June 10, 2010, or such subsequent date as may be provided by the state patrol by rule, consistent with the purposes of this section. For the purposes of this section, a cargo tank is any commercial motor vehicle designed to transport any liquid or gaseous materials within a tank that is either permanently or temporarily attached to the vehicle or the chassis; (iv) A cargo tank, whether loaded or empty, transporting a commodity under exemption in accordance with 49 C.F.R. Part 107, Subpart B as it existed on June 10, 2010, or such subsequent date as may be provided by the state patrol by rule, consistent with the purposes of this section; (v) A cargo tank transporting a commodity that at the time of loading has a temperature above its flashpoint as determined by the United States department of transportation in 49 C.F.R. Sec. 173.120 as it existed on June 10, 2010, or such subsequent date as may be provided by the state patrol by rule, consistent with the purposes of this section; or (vi) A commercial motor vehicle that is required to be marked or placarded with any one of the following classifications by the United States department of transportation in 49 C.F.R. Part 172 as it existed on June 10, 2010, or such subsequent date as may be provided by the state patrol by rule, consistent with the purposes of this section: (A) Division 1.1, Division 1.2, Division 1.3, or Division 1.4; (B) Division 2.1, Division 2.2, Division 2.2 oxygen, Division 2.3 poison gas, or Division 2.3 chlorine; (C) Division 4.1 or Division 4.3; (D) Division 5.1 or Division 5.2; (E) Division 6.1 poison; (F) Class 3 combustible liquid or Class 3 flammable; (G) Class 7; (H) Class 8. (b) While stopped, the driver must listen and look in both directions along the track for any approaching train or other on-track equipment and for signals indicating the approach of a train or other on-track equipment. The driver may not proceed until he or she can do so safely. (2) After stopping at a railroad grade crossing and upon proceeding when it is safe to do so, the driver must cross only in a gear that permits the vehicle to traverse the crossing without changing gears. The driver may not shift gears while crossing the track or tracks. (3) This section does not apply at any railroad grade crossing where: (a) Traffic is controlled by a police officer or flagger. (b) A functioning traffic control signal is transmitting a green light. (c) The tracks are used exclusively for a streetcar or industrial switching purposes. (d) The utilities and transportation commission has approved the installation of an "exempt" sign in accordance with the procedures and standards under RCW 81.53.060 . (e) The crossing is abandoned and is marked with a sign indicating it is out-of-service. (f) The utilities and transportation commission has identified a crossing where stopping is not required under RCW 81.53.060 . (4) For the purpose of this section, "commercial motor vehicle" means: Any vehicle with a manufacturer's seating capacity for eight or more passengers, including the driver, that transports passengers for hire; any private carrier bus; any vehicle used to transport property that has a gross vehicle weight rating, gross combination weight rating, gross vehicle weight, or gross combination weight of 4,536 kg (10,001 pounds) or more; and any vehicle used in the transportation of hazardous materials as defined in RCW 46.25.010 .
(1)(a) The driver of any of the following vehicles must stop before the stop line, if present, and otherwise within fifty feet but not less than fifteen feet from the nearest rail at a railroad grade crossing unless exempt under subsection (3) of this section:
(i) A school bus or private carrier bus carrying any school child or other passenger;
(ii) A commercial motor vehicle transporting passengers;
(iii) A cargo tank, whether loaded or empty, used for transporting any hazardous material as defined in the hazardous materials regulations of the United States department of transportation in 49 C.F.R. Parts 107 through 180 as it existed on June 10, 2010, or such subsequent date as may be provided by the state patrol by rule, consistent with the purposes of this section. For the purposes of this section, a cargo tank is any commercial motor vehicle designed to transport any liquid or gaseous materials within a tank that is either permanently or temporarily attached to the vehicle or the chassis;
(iv) A cargo tank, whether loaded or empty, transporting a commodity under exemption in accordance with 49 C.F.R. Part 107, Subpart B as it existed on June 10, 2010, or such subsequent date as may be provided by the state patrol by rule, consistent with the purposes of this section;
(v) A cargo tank transporting a commodity that at the time of loading has a temperature above its flashpoint as determined by the United States department of transportation in 49 C.F.R. Sec. 173.120 as it existed on June 10, 2010, or such subsequent date as may be provided by the state patrol by rule, consistent with the purposes of this section; or
(vi) A commercial motor vehicle that is required to be marked or placarded with any one of the following classifications by the United States department of transportation in 49 C.F.R. Part 172 as it existed on June 10, 2010, or such subsequent date as may be provided by the state patrol by rule, consistent with the purposes of this section:
(A) Division 1.1, Division 1.2, Division 1.3, or Division 1.4;
(B) Division 2.1, Division 2.2, Division 2.2 oxygen, Division 2.3 poison gas, or Division 2.3 chlorine;
(C) Division 4.1 or Division 4.3;
(D) Division 5.1 or Division 5.2;
(E) Division 6.1 poison;
(F) Class 3 combustible liquid or Class 3 flammable;
(G) Class 7;
(H) Class 8.
(b) While stopped, the driver must listen and look in both directions along the track for any approaching train or other on-track equipment and for signals indicating the approach of a train or other on-track equipment. The driver may not proceed until he or she can do so safely.
(2) After stopping at a railroad grade crossing and upon proceeding when it is safe to do so, the driver must cross only in a gear that permits the vehicle to traverse the crossing without changing gears. The driver may not shift gears while crossing the track or tracks.
(3) This section does not apply at any railroad grade crossing where:
(a) Traffic is controlled by a police officer or flagger.
(b) A functioning traffic control signal is transmitting a green light.
(c) The tracks are used exclusively for a streetcar or industrial switching purposes.
(d) The utilities and transportation commission has approved the installation of an "exempt" sign in accordance with the procedures and standards under RCW 81.53.060 .
(e) The crossing is abandoned and is marked with a sign indicating it is out-of-service.
(f) The utilities and transportation commission has identified a crossing where stopping is not required under RCW 81.53.060 .
(4) For the purpose of this section, "commercial motor vehicle" means: Any vehicle with a manufacturer's seating capacity for eight or more passengers, including the driver, that transports passengers for hire; any private carrier bus; any vehicle used to transport property that has a gross vehicle weight rating, gross combination weight rating, gross vehicle weight, or gross combination weight of 4,536 kg (10,001 pounds) or more; and any vehicle used in the transportation of hazardous materials as defined in RCW 46.25.010 .
Source: WA Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=46.61&full=trueFetched: 6/29/2026