§ 245.207 Certificate requirements. ( a ) Each person who becomes a certified dispatcher in accordance with this part shall be issued a paper or electronic certificate that must: ( 1 ) Identify the railroad or parent company that is issuing the certificate;
( 2 ) Indicate that it is a dispatcher certificate;
( 3 ) Provide the following information about the certified person: ( i ) Name;
( ii ) Employee identification number; and
( iii ) Either a physical description or photograph of the person;
( 4 ) Identify any conditions or limitations, including conditions to ameliorate visual or hearing acuity deficiencies, that restrict, limit, or alter the person's abilities to work as a dispatcher;
( 5 ) Show the effective date of the certification;
( 6 ) Show the expiration date of the certification unless the certificate was issued pursuant to § 245.105(c) or (d);
( 7 ) Be signed by an individual designated in accordance with paragraph (b) of this section; and
( 8 ) Be electronic or be of sufficiently small size to permit being carried in an ordinary pocket wallet.
( b ) Each railroad shall designate in writing any person it authorizes to sign the certificates described in this section. The designation shall identify such persons by name or job title.
( c ) Nothing in this section shall prohibit any railroad from including additional information on the certificate or supplementing the certificate through other documents.
( d ) It shall be unlawful for any railroad to knowingly or any individual to willfully: ( 1 ) Make, cause to be made, or participate in the making of a false entry on a certificate; or
( 2 ) Otherwise falsify a certificate through material misstatement, omission, or mutilation.
( e ) Except as provided for in paragraph (g) of this section, each certified dispatcher shall: ( 1 ) Have their certificate in their possession while on duty as a dispatcher; and
( 2 ) Display their certificate upon a request from: ( i ) An FRA representative;
( ii ) A state inspector authorized under part 212 of this chapter;
( iii ) An officer of the issuing railroad; or
( iv ) An officer of the dispatcher's employer if the dispatcher is not employed by the issuing railroad.
( f ) If a dispatcher's certificate is lost, stolen, or mutilated, the railroad shall promptly replace the certificate at no cost to the dispatcher.
( g ) A certified dispatcher is exempt from the requirements of paragraph (e) of this section if: ( 1 ) The railroad made its certification or recertification decision within the last 30 days and the dispatcher has not yet received their certificate; or
( 2 ) The dispatcher's certificate was lost, stolen, or mutilated, and the railroad has not yet issued a replacement certificate to the dispatcher.
( h ) Any dispatcher who is notified or called to serve as a dispatcher and such service would cause the dispatcher to exceed certificate limitations, set forth in accordance with subpart B of this part, shall immediately notify the railroad that they are not authorized to perform that anticipated service and it shall be unlawful for the railroad to require such service.
( i ) Nothing in this section shall be deemed to alter a certified dispatcher's duty to comply with other provisions of this chapter concerning railroad safety.