Page:Race distinctions in American Law (IA racedistinctions00stepiala).pdf/246

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to enforce the law, and in other States the power is implied. Some States punish passengers for wilfully riding in the wrong car by a fine ranging from a minimum of five dollars in Maryland and Texas to a maximum of one thousand dollars in Georgia, or imprisonment from twenty days in Louisiana to six months in Georgia.

The conductor is liable for two kinds of offences: (1) for asssigning a passenger to a car or compartment to which he does ont by race belong, and (2) for failing to separate passengers. Most of the States consider the two violations as one. Only Arkansas and Louisiana prescribe separate punishments for assigning the passenger to the wrong car—a fine of twenty-five dollars in Arkansas and a fine of twenty-five dollars or twenty days' imprisonment in Louisiana. The punishment for refusing to enforce the law is a fine varying from a minimum of five dollars in Texas to a maximum of one thousand dollars in Georgia, or, in a few States, imprisonment of varying length. In Texas, the fines collected are applied to the common school fund of the State.

The fine imposed upon railroad companies for failing or refusing to furnish separate accommodations, varies between twenty-five dollars and one thousand dollars for each offence, and for this purpose each trip that the train makes is considered a separate offence. If, however, the railroad company provides the required separate cars or compartments and the conductor fails to enforce the law or violates its provisions, it is the conductor, not the company, who is liable.[55]