The Department of Transportation is authorized to designate any highway-railroad grade crossing as a stop intersection and to install and maintain stop signs thereat. The department is authorized to so designate such highway-railroad grade crossings on town ways, and local municipalities shall, when ordered by the department, erect and maintain stop signs on such town ways. When such stop signs are erected, the driver of any vehicle shall stop within 50 feet but not less than 10 feet from the nearest rail of such railroad and shall proceed only upon exercising due care.   [PL 1971, c. 593, §10 (AMD).]

Any person who shall operate a vehicle in violation of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by a fine of not more than $50 or by imprisonment for not more than 60 days, or by both.   [PL 1969, c. 387, §1 (NEW).]

The expense of the erection and maintenance of each stop sign installed by virtue of this section shall be borne by the railroad.   [PL 1969, c. 387, §1 (NEW).]