Railroads - Working Hours - Labor - CA

Section § 600

This law defines specific terms used in this chapter related to railroads. It clarifies that "railroad" refers to any type of railroad or railway, whether powered by steam or electricity, operating in California. A "railroad corporation" is a company or receiver that manages a railroad. "Trainman" includes various roles such as conductors, engineers, and telegraph operators associated with railroads.

As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise indicates:

(a) “Railroad” means any steam railroad, electric railroad, or railway, operated in whole or in part in this State.

(b) “Railroad corporation” means a corporation or receiver operating a railroad.

(c) “Trainman” means a conductor, motorman, engineer, fireman, brakeman, train dispatcher, or telegraph operator, employed by or working in connection with a railroad.

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Section § 601

This law states that no railroad company or its employees can require a train worker to be on duty for more than 12 hours straight.

No railroad corporation or any officer, agent or representative of such corporation shall require or knowingly permit any trainman to be on duty for a longer period than 12 consecutive hours.

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Section § 602

This law states that if a train employee has been working for 12 straight hours, they must be given a break and can't return to work or perform any tasks for the railroad company until they have had at least a 10-hour rest period.

Whenever any trainman has been continuously on duty for 12 hours he shall be relieved and not required or permitted again to go on duty or perform any work for the railroad corporation until he has had at least 10 consecutive hours off duty.

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Section § 603

If a trainman has worked a total of 12 hours within any 24-hour period, they must be allowed or take a minimum break of 8 consecutive hours before working again.

No trainman who has been on duty 12 hours in the aggregate in any 24-hour period shall be required or permitted to continue or again go on duty without having had at least 8 consecutive hours off duty.

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Section § 604

This law sets working hour limits for telegraph or telephone operators involved in train movements. Operators working in places open 24/7 can't work more than 9 hours a day. For locations open only during the day, the limit is 13 hours. In emergencies, they can work an extra 4 hours, but not more than three times a week.

No person who by the use of the telegraph or telephone, dispatches, reports, transmits, receives or delivers orders pertaining to or affecting train movements shall be required or permitted to be on duty for a longer period than nine hours in any twenty-four hours, in towers, offices, places and stations continuously operated night and day, nor for a longer period than thirteen hours in towers, offices, places and stations operated only during the daytime. In case of emergency, however, the persons referred to in this section may be permitted to be on duty for four additional hours in a twenty-four hour period. Such additional duty shall not be required or permitted on more than three days in any week.

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Section § 605

This law states that if a railroad company breaks any rule in this specific chapter, they must pay a fine to the state between $500 and $5,000 for each violation. The state can take legal action to collect this penalty in any county where the railroad operates. The Attorney General or a county's district attorney can file this lawsuit.

Any railroad corporation that violates any of the provisions of this chapter is liable to the state in a penalty of not less than five hundred dollars ($500) nor more than five thousand dollars ($5,000) for each offense. The penalty shall be recovered and suit therefor shall be brought in the name of the state in a court of competent jurisdiction in any county into or through which said railroad may pass. The suit may be brought either by the Attorney General of the state or under his or her direction by the district attorney of any county in the state into or through which said railroad passes.

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Section § 606

This California law states that if any officer, agent, or representative of a railroad company breaks any rules in the specific chapter it's part of, they are committing a misdemeanor. The penalties for this can include a fine between $100 and $1,000, jail time ranging from 10 to 60 days, or both. The person can be prosecuted either in the county where the crime happened or where the employee was unlawfully required to work.

Any officer, agent or representative of any railroad corporation who violates any of the provisions of this chapter is guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of not less than one hundred dollars ($100) nor more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) for each offense, or confinement in the county jail for not less than 10 nor more than 60 days, or both. Such person so offending may be prosecuted under this section, either in the county where he is at the time of commission of the offense, or in any county where such employee has been permitted or required to work in violation of this chapter.

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Section § 607

This law section states that certain rules do not apply in situations involving unexpected events like natural disasters or accidents that couldn't be predicted by a railroad company. Additionally, the rules don't apply to workers on emergency response or relief trains.

This chapter shall not apply in any case of casualty, unavoidable accident, or act of God; nor where the delay was the result of a cause not known to, and which could not have been foreseen by, the railroad corporation, or its officer or agent in charge of a trainman at the time the trainman left a terminal. This chapter shall not apply to the crews of wrecking, or relief trains.

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