ST. PAUL, Minn. — A Minnesota bill to limit the length of freight trains has cleared its first legislative hurdle, passing a committee of the state’s House of Representatives on Tuesday.
HF3499, introduced by Rep. Jeff Brand (Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, St. Peter, Minn.), would limit trains to 8,500 feet, with penalties escalating from as little as $1,000 for a first offense to no less than $25,000 for a third in a three-year period. In passing the House Transportation Finance and Policy Committee on a 9-6 party-line vote, it was also amended to require a minimum of $5 million in insurance for crews traveling to work.
The bill now goes to the Judiciary Finance and Civil Law Committee.
An article on the House website says the bill aims to improve safety for railroad workers and communities, but opponents say the limit is arbitrary, would lead to more trains, and would drive up costs for consumers.
If the Constitution meant anything, it wouldn’t be challenged so frequently. One of its intents was to enable interstate commerce. Not disable it.
Like all states before them, it wont get past federal pre-emption on railroads.