Railroad companies and mining, manufacturing, and quarrying companies may contract, purchase, or otherwise acquire, own, operate, and maintain steamboats, barges, ships, and other vessels for transportation of freight and passengers on the navigable waters of this state, any other state or foreign country and on the seas. Railroad companies may purchase or otherwise acquire, own, maintain, and operate motor vehicles for the transportation of persons or property, or both, upon the highways of this state; they may purchase or otherwise acquire, own, maintain, and operate airplanes for the transportation of persons or property, or both, in the air; they may purchase, lease, or otherwise acquire and own the property, rights, and franchises of any individual, firm, partnership, or other association of persons, or corporation, engaged in the transportation of persons or property, or both, by motor vehicle on the highways or by airplanes in the air, and they may subscribe to, acquire, and own the capital stock of any such corporation and may enter into any agreement or arrangement, not inconsistent with law, with any individual, firm, partnership, or other association of persons, or corporation, engaged in, or authorized to engage in, any of the methods of transportation; provided, however, that any railroad companies exercising in this state the powers granted in this section shall, in their operation of motor vehicles, be subject to all the laws of this state applicable to or authorizing, regulating, and governing motor carriers and their business or prescribing the condition under which operators of motor vehicles may operate vehicles on the highways of this state. All railroad companies organized under the laws of other states, but authorized to do business in this state, may exercise in this state the powers hereinabove granted, subject, however, to the limitations hereinabove set forth; provided, that before operating any motor vehicles upon the highways of this state, railroad companies must procure a certificate of convenience and necessity covering the operations.
Last modified: May 3, 2021