Blocked crossing laws
How long can a train block a crossing in Mississippi?
Mississippi law limits a train to 5 minutes blocking a road crossing, under Miss. Code Ann. §§ 77-9-235, 77-9-236, 97-25-37. We found no Mississippi 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
Mississippi law says a railroad that stops a train where the track crosses a highway must uncouple its cars so that travel on the highway is not blocked for more than five minutes. On city streets, the limit is whatever the city, town or village sets by ordinance. A separate criminal law says a train may not be stopped or left standing on a railroad crossing unless it is done under regulations set by those who control the matter.
Exceptions and local rules
The railroad can be fined 50 dollars per offense, and the conductor 25 to 50 dollars. A crew member is not criminally liable when the blocking was needed to follow the employer's orders; the railroad then stands in the crew member's place and pays any fine. The law says the Mississippi Department of Transportation enforces both sections. Under the criminal law (97-25-37), the penalty is a fine of 100 to 1,000 dollars, up to one year in the county jail, or both, and up to 15 years in prison if someone is killed or injured as a result.
Every railroad company, upon stopping any train at a place where such railroad shall cross a highway, shall so uncouple its cars as not to obstruct travel upon such highway for a longer period than five (5) minutes.
Read the statute: Miss. Code Ann. §§ 77-9-235, 77-9-236, 97-25-37
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
We found no Mississippi state page for blocked crossing reports, so the FRA reporter is the place to report.
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 Mississippi
Mississippi has 2,110 public crossings in the FRA crossing inventory.