LELAND – The Leland Police Department corrected some misconceptions about how long rail crossings can be blocked in the community on social media. The department took to Facebook to clear up confusion about the laws in Illinois after hearing from residents complaints about how long some roads were impassable due to trains. In 2008, the Illinois Supreme Court ruled that an Illinois statute prohibiting the blocking of a railroad crossing by a rail carrier was unconstitutional. Only the Federal Railroad Administration has the authority to regulate blocked crossings. No local or state authority can enact laws prohibiting a crossing being blocked for an extended amount of time.
