Blocked crossing laws
How long can a train block a crossing in Minnesota?
Minnesota law limits a train to 10 minutes blocking a road crossing, under Minn. Stat. § 219.383, subd. 3 and 4. We found no Minnesota court ruling on this limit. Courts elsewhere have held similar limits preempted by federal law, so it may not be enforceable against railroads. Checked 16 October 2026.
The rule
Minnesota law says a railroad may not let a standing train, car or engine, or a switching move, block a public road or street crossing for longer than 10 minutes.
Exceptions and local rules
The state rule does not apply in cities of the first class that regulate blocked streets by their own ordinance. First-class cities are those over 100,000 people (Minn. Stat. 410.01); based on the 2020 census they are Minneapolis, St. Paul, Rochester and Duluth (Duluth keeps the class under the statute's 25 percent rule). A first violation is a petty misdemeanor for the railroad; a second or later violation is a misdemeanor.
No railway corporation shall permit a public road or street crossing a railroad track to be closed for traffic by a standing car, train, engine, or other railroad equipment, or by a switching movement which continuously blocks a crossing for longer than ten minutes.
Does federal law override it?
No federal law sets a time limit for a train blocking a crossing. Federal law does control how railroads run trains, and courts have used it to set aside state time limits.
When a court holds a state limit preempted, the state cannot enforce it against the railroad. A limit no court has ruled on is still on the books, but railroads may challenge it the same way.
Where to report a blocked crossing
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) takes blocked crossing reports from the public for every state.
Report to the FRA blocked crossing reporter
Minnesota has its own page about blocked crossings: the MnDOT Office of Freight and Commercial Vehicle Operations page.
If a train is blocking the crossing right now, call the railroad on the number shown on the blue sign at the crossing.
Crossings in Minnesota
Minnesota has 4,180 public crossings in the FRA crossing inventory.