Chapter 4953 | Transportation Terminal Companies

Section 4953.01 | Powers of union terminal companies.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

The presidents of two or more railroad companies running railroads to the same municipal corporation or township, by the consent and under the direction of their respective boards of directors, or any number of persons, not less than five, a majority of whom are residents of this state, may file articles of incorporation in the office of the secretary of state for the purposes of purchasing or leasing grounds, and locating, constructing, maintaining, and operating a common or union station house, passenger or freight depot, or other structures and facilities for the interchange, receipt, and delivery of freight transported or to be transported over a route which includes both rail and water, and yard, terminal, and connecting tracks for the use of railroads or both railroads and electric railways.

Such company may acquire such grounds, structures, and facilities, and such yard, terminal, and connecting tracks, by lease or otherwise. Such company may also acquire, by lease, purchase, or otherwise, and may construct, maintain, and operate in connection with its terminals or station, a terminal railroad with two or more tracks connecting the railroads of one or more companies. Such company may construct and maintain warehouses, stores, office buildings, hotels, and other structures for the accommodation of the public and may operate or lease said grounds, structures, and facilities, or any part of them.

Section 4953.02 | Articles of incorporation.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

The articles of incorporation of a union terminal company, referred to by section 4953.01 of the Revised Code, shall specify:

(A) The name assumed by such company;

(B) When two or more of the incorporators are presidents of railroad companies, the names of such companies;

(C) The municipal corporation or township in which depot, terminals, connection tracks, structures, and facilities to be operated in connection with such company are to be constructed;

(D) The amount of capital stock necessary to obtain a site and to construct, maintain, and operate such depot, terminals, tracks, and other structures.

Section 4953.03 | Recording - privileges.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

The articles of incorporation referred to by section 4953.02 of the Revised Code shall be signed by the presidents in behalf of the railroad companies, with the corporate seals of the companies annexed to such articles, or by any number of persons, not less than five, a majority of whom are residents of this state, and shall be forwarded to the secretary of state, who shall record and preserve them in his office. A copy of such articles certified by the secretary of state, is evidence of the existence of such company. After such recording, the company may contract, sue and be sued, locate and acquire rights of way, grounds, and terminals, and appropriate so much land as it deems necessary for its depot, tracks, terminals, structures, and facilities, and shall have all the powers given to railroads by the laws of this state, for the purpose of acquiring, constructing, and operating its depot, tracks, terminals, structures, and facilities. Such company is not subject to sections 4953.13 to 4953.16, inclusive, of the Revised Code.

Section 4953.04 | Restrictions for union terminal company service.

• Effective: June 11, 2012
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 487 - 129th General Assembly

No union terminal company or corporation shall engage in the business of a for-hire motor carrier, as defined in 4921.01 of the Revised Code, over any public highway in this state, without obtaining authority from the public utilities commission, and complying with all laws governing every corporation or company when engaged or proposing to engage in the business of a for-hire motor carrier.

Section 4953.05 | General corporation laws apply.

• Effective: October 11, 1955
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 70 - 101st General Assembly

When a union terminal company is incorporated by individuals as provided in sections 4953.01 to 4953.12, inclusive, of the Revised Code, its organization shall be in the manner provided by sections 1701.01 to 1701.98, inclusive, of the Revised Code.

The capital stock of such company may be divided into common and preferred stock in the same manner and to the same extent as in the case of corporations organized under such sections.

Section 4953.06 | Board of directors.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

The president of each railroad company which participates in the incorporation of a union terminal company as provided in section 4953.01 to 4953.12, inclusive, of the Revised Code, shall, ex officio, be a director in the union terminal company, unless the board of directors of any such railroad company appoints some other person as director. When such union terminal company is organized by not less than five persons, its board of directors shall be elected by its stockholders.

All questions which affect the pecuniary liabilities and expenditures, the election of officers, and the appointment of agents and employees, shall be regulated by the bylaws, rules, and regulations of such companies. Such bylaws, rules, and regulations shall not be inconsistent with the charter of the company and the general laws of the state.

The board of directors of the union terminal company shall keep a record of its proceedings which record shall be open to the inspection of the stockholders.

Section 4953.07 | Bylaws, rules, and regulations.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

The board of directors of a union terminal company may pass bylaws, rules, and regulations for its government, not inconsistent with the charters of the railroad companies and for the regulation of the depot and depot grounds and the business thereof. It shall appoint such officers and agents as are necessary. It shall adopt, and post conspicuously in the passenger depot, rules and regulations to control the conduct of all runners, solicitors, hackmen, and drivers of vehicles within the depot and depot grounds.

Section 4953.08 | Proportionate use and liability - grant for use of streets, alleys, and roads.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

The railroad companies whose boards of directors authorized the filing of the articles of incorporation of a union terminal company, or assent thereto, as provided by section 4953.01 of the Revised Code, shall each be held to own and be liable to pay an equal proportion of the capital stock, or when such union terminal companies are organized by any number of persons, not less than five, the stock of such company may be acquired and held by the railroad companies which have agreed to use the union depot or terminals of such company, in such proportions as said railroad companies may agree upon.

Sections 4955.01 to 4955.06, inclusive, and 4961.01 to 4961.41, inclusive, of the Revised Code authorizing railroad companies to enter upon and appropriate lands and materials for depots, workshops, and side tracks apply to such union terminal company, whether organized by the presidents of two or more railroad companies or by not less than five individuals. Any municipal corporation or the board of county commissioners of any county in which such company is located, which owns or has charge of any public road, street, alley, way, or ground of any kind, except a public landing, may grant to such union terminal company the right to construct, maintain, and operate elevated, surface, and underground tracks, so far as are necessary to carry out the purpose of said union terminal company, along, over, and under said public road, street, alley, way, or ground, subject to existing laws concerning crossings, the right to erect and maintain therein the necessary tracks, piers, stays, supports, and stations, and the approaches for them, and the right to construct suitable terminals and way stations. Before making such grant said union terminal company shall file with such municipal corporation, or such board of county commissioners in the case of a township, maps showing the location and character of the construction, and said grant shall provide for such manner of construction as will not interfere with the ordinary use of and traffic upon said road, street, alley, way, or ground, whether by pedestrians, vehicles, streetcars, or otherwise, except temporarily when necessary in the construction of such structures. Such grant shall further provide that any tunnel construction shall not impair the stability of any such road, street, alley, way, or ground, or prevent the use of any sewers, water pipes, gas pipes, or conduits used for such purposes, or for telephone or telegraph purposes, in such road, street, alley, way, or ground, except temporarily when necessary in the construction of said tunnels.

Said grant can only be made upon such terms as are agreed upon by the legislative authority of the municipal corporation, or by the board of county commissioners in the case of a township, and the company. Such grant shall provide for its acceptance by such union terminal company within the time fixed by such legislative authority or by such board.

Section 4953.09 | Power to borrow money and mortgage property.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

Any union terminal company may borrow money for the purpose of carrying out the powers conferred by sections 4953.01 to 4953.12, inclusive, of the Revised Code, without reference to the amount of stock of such company, and may also issue coupon, registered, or other bonds payable to bearer, bearing interest not exceeding the highest contract rate of interest allowable in this state at the time, payable semiannually. Such company may mortgage its franchises, property, and revenues of every kind owned at the time such money is borrowed or such bonds are issued or subsequently acquire, to secure the payment of such loan, bonds, and interest. The stock holders of such company may jointly and severally guarantee the payment of any notes or bonds the company lawfully issues, and the company may dispose of such notes or bonds at such rate of premium or discount as the board of directors deems best for the interests of the company. It is sufficient to record any mortgage securing such loan or bonds in the real estate records of the county where the depot, terminal, yards, or tracks of the company are constructed.

Section 4953.10 | Liability of company.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

The company controlling and operating the property of a union terminal company is liable to the public and to persons who contract with such union terminal company, upon all contracts made by it, for all damages caused by it, and for all damages, costs, and expenses which arise from the fault or neglect of its officers and employees.

Section 4953.11 | Detention upon probable cause by officer or agent of union terminal company.

• Effective: March 23, 2000
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 107 - 123rd General Assembly

(A) An officer or agent of a union terminal company who has probable cause to believe that a person is a pickpocket, is a thief, has violated the public peace, has violated any rule or regulation posted as provided by section 4953.07 of the Revised Code, or has committed any crime or misdemeanor on the depot grounds may detain the person in a reasonable manner and for a reasonable length of time within the property of the union terminal company, for the purpose of recovering any property involved in the violation, causing an arrest to be made by a peace officer, or obtaining a warrant of arrest.

(B) An officer or agent of a union terminal company acting under division (A) of this section shall not search the person detained, search or seize any property belonging to the person detained without the person's consent, or use undue restraint upon the person detained.

(C) Any peace officer, as defined in section 2935.01 of the Revised Code, may arrest without a warrant any person who the officer has probable cause to believe is a pickpocket, is a thief, has violated any rule or regulation provided by section 4953.07 of the Revised Code that also is a violation of law, or has committed any crime or misdemeanor on the depot grounds and shall make the arrest within a reasonable time after the commission of the act or violation that is the basis of the arrest.

Section 4953.12 | Protection of property - duties of employees.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

All laws for the protection of railroads and their property, and all laws relating to or enforcing the duties and obligations of officers, agents, and employees of railroad companies to the public or to railroad companies, shall be applicable to the railroad tracks, property, officers, agents, and employees of a union terminal company.

Section 4953.13 | Union electric interurban terminal and depot company.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

Any five or more persons, the majority of whom are citizens of this state, may become a body corporate for the purpose of constructing, maintaining, and operating union electric interurban terminals and depots and connecting tracks. Union electric interurban terminal and depot companies may be organized in the manner provided by law for the creation of corporations generally.

Section 4953.14 | Powers.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

A union electric interurban terminal and depot company may receive grants from the legislative authority of a municipal corporation for the use of its streets or alleys upon the same terms as street railways, which grant shall continue as long as the grants, and renewals and relettings of such grants, continue to any interurban railroad or street railway connecting with such company's depot or tracks. It may construct, maintain, and operate railway lines upon the streets or alleys of a municipal corporation to connect its depot with other street railways or interurban railroads, and may build, keep, maintain, and operate union electric interurban terminals and depots for electric cars and trains. Such company may contract for the use of its tracks for the operation of the cars of any interurban railroad or street or other electric railway company and for furnishing them terminal depot facilities. Any interurban railroad or street or other electric railway company may contract with such union electric interurban terminal and depot company for the use of its tracks and for terminal depot facilities.

Section 4953.15 | Appropriation of private lands.

• Effective: January 1, 1966
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 94 - 106th General Assembly

Union electric interurban terminal and depot companies may appropriate private lands for the purpose of connecting their main tracks, terminals, and depots with their own tracks and with the tracks of any other interurban electric railroad company, for acquiring depot sites, and for the construction of main track to avoid dangerous or difficult curves or grades or unsafe or unsubstantial grounds or foundations, or to extend or shorten their railroad lines. Such power to appropriate property shall be exercised in the manner provided for in sections 163.01 to 163.22, inclusive, of the Revised Code.

Section 4953.16 | Maximum charge.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

All charges made by union electric interurban terminal and depot companies for the use of their tracks and terminal depot facilities shall be on the same basis against each company using them and no preference in charges shall be given one company over another.

Such union electric interurban terminal and depot company shall not charge any interurban railroad or street or other electric railway company, for the use of the passenger terminal station, more than one cent for each passenger hauled by such companies within the limits of the municipal corporation.