(a) The Commissioner of Transportation shall, at the commissioner's discretion, examine the several railroads in the state when he deems that public safety so requires, and shall make a like examination of any railroad within the limits of any town, when so requested in writing by the selectmen of such town or by the authorities having control and supervision of the streets and highways within the town, and shall see that such railroads are kept in suitable repair and that the companies operating them faithfully comply with all provisions of law. The employees of the Department of Transportation shall have the right to pass free of charge, in the performance of their duties, on all railroads in the state.
(b) The commissioner or his employees may enter any building, car or other premises owned or controlled by any railroad company. Any person interfering with an employee of the Department of Transportation in the performance of his duties shall be fined not more than two hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than six months or both.
(1949 Rev., S. 5441; P.A. 75-486, S. 1, 69; P.A. 77-614, S. 559, 571, 610; P.A. 78-303, S. 14, 136; P.A. 81-435, S. 1; P.A. 90-271, S. 11, 24; P.A. 04-143, S. 6.)
History: P.A. 75-486 substituted “public utilities control authority” for “commission”, i.e. public utilities commission, and “authority” for “commission” thereafter, effective December 1, 1975; P.A. 77-614 substituted “commissioner of transportation” for “public utilities control authority” and “authority”, deleted “railways” and “street railways” where appearing and substituted “employees” for “members”, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 78-303 deleted authorization for free passage of authority employees, effective January 1, 1979; in 1981 Sec. 16-51 transferred to Sec. 13b-200; P.A. 81-435 added Subsec. (b) authorizing employees of the department to enter railroad premises at times of emergency; P.A. 90-271 made a technical change; P.A. 04-143 amended Subsec. (a) to permit examination of railroads at commissioner's discretion, rather than once in each year or more often, and amended Subsec. (b) to permit commissioner or employees to enter any building, car or premises of railroad company at any time, rather than only at times of emergency, effective May 21, 2004.