SPECIAL STOPS

Charleston, W. Va., City Code ch. 114, art. VI, div. 6

in effect

Charleston, W. Va., City Code § 114-511 At railroad crossings generally.

Sec. 114-511. - At railroad crossings generally. (a) Whenever any person driving a vehicle approaches a railroad grade crossing under any of the circumstances stated in this section, the driver of such vehicle shall stop within 50 feet but not less than 15 feet from the nearest rail of such railroad and shall not proceed until he can do so safely. These requirements shall apply when: (1) A clearly visible electric or mechanical signal device gives warning of the immediate approach of a railroad train. (2) A crossing gate is lowered or when a human flagman gives or continues to give a signal of the approach or passage of a railroad train. (3) A railroad train approaching within approximately 1,500 feet of the crossing emits a signal audible from such distance and such railroad train, by reason of its speed or nearness to such crossing, is an immediate hazard. (4) Any approaching railroad train is plainly visible and is in hazardous proximity to such crossing. (5) An official traffic control stop sign is in place. (b) No person shall drive any vehicle through, around or under any crossing gate or barrier at a railroad crossing while such gate or barrier is closed or is being opened or closed. (Code 1975, § 31-94)

Charleston, W. Va., City Code § 114-512 Certain vehicles at grade crossings.

Sec. 114-512. - Certain vehicles at grade crossings. (a) The driver of any motor vehicle carrying passengers for hire, or of any school bus carrying any schoolchild, or of any vehicle carrying explosive substances or flammable liquids as a cargo or part of a cargo, or of any vehicle owned by an employer which, in carrying on such employer's business or in carrying employees to and from work, is carrying more than six employees of such employer, before crossing at grade any track of a railroad, shall stop such vehicle within 50 feet but not less than 15 feet from the nearest rail of such railroad and while so stopped shall listen and look in both directions along such track for any approaching train, and for signals indicating the approach of a train, except as otherwise provided, and shall not proceed until he can do so safely. After stopping as required in this section and upon proceeding when it is safe to do so, the driver of any such vehicle shall cross only in such gear of the vehicle that there will be no necessity for changing gears while traversing such crossing; and the driver shall not shift gears while crossing the track or tracks. (b) No stop need be made at any such crossing where a police officer or a traffic control signal directs traffic to proceed. (Code 1975, § 31-95)

Charleston, W. Va., City Code § 114-513 Heavy equipment at grade crossings.

Sec. 114-513. - Heavy equipment at grade crossings. (a) No person shall operate or move any crawler-type tractor, steam shovel, derrick, roller, or any equipment or structure having a normal operating speed of ten or less miles per hour or a vertical body or load clearance of less than one-half inch per foot of the distance between any two adjacent axles or in any event of less than nine inches, measured above the level surface of a roadway, upon or across any tracks at a railroad grade crossing without first complying with this section. (b) Notice of any such intended crossing shall be given to a station agent of such railroad and a reasonable time be given to such railroad to provide proper protection at such crossing. (c) Before making any such crossing, the person operating or moving any such vehicle or equipment shall first stop the vehicle or equipment not less than 15 feet nor more than 50 feet from the nearest rail of such railroad and while so stopped shall listen and look in both directions along such track for any approaching train and for signals indicating the approach of a train, and shall not proceed until the crossing can be made safely. (d) No such crossing shall be made when warning is given by automatic signal or crossing gates or a flagman or otherwise of the immediate approach of a railroad train or car. If a flagman is provided by the railroad, movement over the crossing shall be under his direction. (Code 1975, § 31-96)

Charleston, W. Va., City Code § 114-514 Stop signs at intersections.

Sec. 114-514. - Stop signs at intersections. Every driver of a vehicle approaching an official traffic control stop sign shall stop before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection or, if there is no crosswalk, shall stop at a clearly marked stop line, but if none, then at the point nearest the intersecting street where the driver has a view of approaching traffic on the intersecting street before entering the intersection except when directed to proceed by a police officer or traffic control signal. (Code 1975, § 31-97)

Charleston, W. Va., City Code § 114-515 Stop before emerging from alley or private driveway.

Sec. 114-515. - Stop before emerging from alley or private driveway. The driver of a vehicle within a business or residence district emerging from any alley, driveway or building shall stop such vehicle immediately prior to driving onto a sidewalk or onto the sidewalk area extending across any alleyway or private driveway and shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian as may be necessary to avoid collision and upon entering the roadway shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles approaching on the roadway. (Code 1975, § 31-98)

Charleston, W. Va., City Code § 114-516 Upon meeting a stopped school bus; requirements for school buses.

Sec. 114-516. - Upon meeting a stopped school bus; requirements for school buses. (a) The driver of a vehicle on any street or highway upon meeting or overtaking from either direction any school bus which has stopped on the highway for the purpose of receiving or discharging any schoolchildren shall stop the vehicle before reaching such school bus when there is in operation on the school bus flashing warning signal lights, as referred to in W. Va. Code § 17C-12-8; and such driver shall not proceed until such school bus resumes motion or is signaled by the school bus driver to proceed or the visual signals are no longer actuated. (b) Every bus used for the transportation of schoolchildren shall bear upon the front and rear of a plainly visible sign containing the words "school bus" in letters not less than eight inches in height. When a contract school bus is being operated upon a highway for purposes other than the actual transportation of children either to or from school, all markings indicating school bus shall be covered or concealed. Any school bus sold or transferred to another owner by a county board of education, agency or individual shall have all flashing warning lights removed, all lettering removed or permanently obscured, and such bus shall be painted a color other than chrome yellow before sale or transfer is made except when sold or transferred for the transportation of school-children. (c) The driver of a vehicle upon a highway with separate roadways need not stop upon meeting or passing a school bus which is on a different roadway or when upon a controlled-access highway and the school bus is stopped in a loading zone which is a part of or adjacent to such highway and where pedestrians are not permitted to cross the roadway. (d) It shall be unlawful to operate any flashing warning signal light on any school bus except when the bus is stopped on a street for the purpose of permitting schoolchildren to board or alight from the bus. (Code 1975, § 31-99)

Source: City of Charleston, West Virginia, City Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/wv/charleston/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH114TROR_ARTVIVEOP_DIV6SPSTFetched: 11/7/2026