Section 5 of, and Schedule 1 to, the Railway Safety Act (Northern Ireland) 2002 authorises the operator of a railway that is crossed by a private road or path to cause or permit the placement near the crossing of crossing signs or barriers that are prescribed in Regulations made by the Department for Regional Development.

These Regulations prescribe crossing signs and barriers for the purpose of section 5 and Schedule 1. Any person who fails to comply with any requirement, restriction or prohibition conveyed by a crossing sign lawfully placed on or near a private road or path near a place where it crosses a railway shall be guilty of an offence under the Railway Safety Act (Northern Ireland) 2002 and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale (£1000).

These Regulations have been notified to the European Commission pursuant to European Parliament and Council Directive 98/34EC of 22 June 1998 (O.J. No. L204, 21. 7.98, p. 37) as amended by European Parliament Council Directive 98/48 of 20th July 1998 (O.J. No. L217, 5.8.98, p. 18) laying down a procedure for the provision of information in the field of technical standards regulations and of rules on Information Society services.