Chap. 335.—An ACT to require every person driving any vehicles on a public
highway, on approaching certain railway grade crossings, to stop before
passing thereover, and to require railway companies to erect and maintain
danger signs at such crossings; and providing penalties therefor. [H B 236]

Approved March 23, 1922.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That except
in cities and incorporated towns and villages of one thousand inhabit-
ants or more it shall be the duty of every person driving any vehi-
cles on a public highway, in approaching a place where a railway
crosses such public highway at grade, to stop before passing over
such crossing, at a distance of not less than ten feet nor more than
one hundred feet from the nearest rail of such railway tracks. Pro-
vided, that this act shall not apply to any public railway crossing at
grade on railway lines on which only purely local trains are operated.

2. The provisions of this act shall not change or alter in any
manner the existing law as to the duty or liability of railway com-
panies for damages to persons or property, and failure to comply
with the provisions of this act on the part of the driver of the vehi-
cle shall not be considered contributory negligence in an action
against the railway company for damage to persons or property,
whether the same be for injury to the person or property of the
driver or any other person. And it shall not be necessary to estab-
lish the fact that the driver complied with the provisions of this act
in order to recover in any action for damage to persons or property
against a railway company.

3. That except in cities and incorporated towns it shall be the
duty of railway companies to erect and maintain, at every point
where a public highway crosses such railway at grade, and on which
line trains other than purely local trains are operated, a sign, visible
for one hundred feet on each side of its tracks with the words, “Main
Line—Danger—Stop,” in letters at least six inches in height.

4. Any driver of any vehicles included in this act and any other
person, firm or corporation violating the provisions of this act shall
be fined not exceeding ten dollars for each offense; provided, that
this act shall not apply to electric railways.