49 U.S.C. § 21301 (TRANSPORTATION)
§ 21301. Chapter 201 general violations
(a) Penalty.—
(1) A person may not fail to comply with section 20160 or with a regulation prescribed or order issued by the Secretary of Transportation under chapter 201 of this title. Subject to section 21304 of this title, a person violating section 20160 of this title or a regulation prescribed or order issued by the Secretary under chapter 201 is liable to the United States Government for a civil penalty. The Secretary shall impose the penalty applicable under paragraph (2) of this subsection. A separate violation occurs for each day the violation continues.
(2) The Secretary shall include in, or make applicable to, each regulation prescribed and order issued under chapter 201 of this title a civil penalty for a violation. The Secretary shall impose a civil penalty for a violation of section 20160 of this title. The amount of the penalty shall be at least $500 but not more than $25,000. However, when a grossly negligent violation or a pattern of repeated violations has caused an imminent hazard of death or injury to individuals, or has caused death or injury, the amount may be not more than $100,000.
(3) The Secretary may find that a person has violated this chapter or a regulation prescribed or order, special permit, or approval issued under this chapter only after notice and an opportunity for a hearing. The Secretary shall impose a penalty under this section by giving the person written notice of the amount of the penalty. The Secretary may compromise the amount of a civil penalty by settlement agreement without issuance of an order. In determining the amount of a compromise, the Secretary shall consider—
(A) the nature, circumstances, extent, and gravity of the violation;
(B) with respect to the violator, the degree of culpability, any history of violations, the ability to pay, and any effect on the ability to continue to do business; and
(C) other matters that justice requires.
(4) The Attorney General may bring a civil action in an appropriate district court of the United States to collect a civil penalty imposed or compromise under this section and any accrued interest on the civil penalty. In the civil action, the amount and appropriateness of the civil penalty shall not be subject to review.
(b) Setoff.—
The Government may deduct the amount of a civil penalty imposed or compromised under this section from amounts it owes the person liable for the penalty.
(c) Deposit in Treasury.—
A civil penalty collected under this section or section 20113(b) of this title shall be deposited in the Treasury as miscellaneous receipts.
(Pub. L. 103–272, § 1(e), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 891; Pub. L. 104–287, § 5(53), Oct. 11, 1996, 110 Stat. 3393; Pub. L. 110–432, div. A, title II, § 204(d), title III, § 302(a), Oct. 16, 2008, 122 Stat. 4871, 4878; Pub. L. 117–58, div. B, title II, § 22418, Nov. 15, 2021, 135 Stat. 749.)
text: Historical and Revision Notes
Pub. L. 103–272
Revised
Section
Source (U.S. Code)
Source (Statutes at Large)
21301(a)(1)
45:438(a).
Oct. 16, 1970, Pub. L. 91–458, § 209(a), 84 Stat. 975; restated Jan. 14, 1983, Pub. L. 97–468, § 706, 96 Stat. 2581; June 22, 1988, Pub. L. 100–342, § 3(a)(1), 102 Stat. 624; Sept. 3, 1992, Pub. L. 102–365, § 9(a)(1), 106 Stat. 977.
45:438(c) (1st, 3d sentences).
Oct. 16, 1970, Pub. L. 91–458, § 209(c) (1st, 3d, 5th–8th sentences), 84 Stat. 975; June 22, 1988, Pub. L. 100–342, § 3(a)(3)(A), (C), 102 Stat. 624; Sept. 3, 1992, Pub. L. 102–365, § 4(c)(1), 106 Stat. 974.
21301(a)(2)
45:438(b) (related to rules, regulations, orders, or standards issued under this subchapter).
Oct. 16, 1970, Pub. L. 91–458, § 209(b) (related to rules, regulations, orders, or standards issued under this title), 84 Stat. 975; Jan. 3, 1975, Pub. L. 93–633, § 204(a), 88 Stat. 2165; June 22, 1988, Pub. L. 100–342, § 3(a)(2), 102 Stat. 624; Sept. 3, 1992, Pub. L. 102–365, § 4(a)(1), 106 Stat. 973.
21301(a)(3)
45:438(c) (5th, 6th sentences).
21301(b)
45:438(c) (7th sentence).
21301(c)
45:438(c) (8th sentence).
In subsection (a), the words “impose” and “imposed” are substituted for “assessed”, for consistency in the revised title.
In subsection (a)(1), the first 2 sentences are substituted for 45:438(a) and (c) (1st sentence) for consistency in the revised title and to eliminate unnecessary words. The words “(including but not limited to a railroad; any manager, supervisor, official, or other employee or agent of a railroad; any owner, manufacturer, lessor, or lessee of railroad equipment, track, or facilities; any independent contractor providing goods or services to a railroad; and any employee of such owner, manufacturer, lessor, lessee, or independent contractor)” are omitted as surplus because of the definition of “person” in 1:1 and because the provision being violated indicates to whom it applies. The word “shall” in 45:438(c) (1st sentence) is retained from the source provisions. For a discussion of whether the authority of the Secretary of Transportation to impose a penalty is mandatory or permissive, see Railway Labor Executives’ Ass’n v. Dole, 760 F.2d 1021, 1024, 1025 (9th Cir. 1985); H.R. Conf. Rept. No. 100–637, 100th Cong., 2d Sess., p. 20; 134 Cong. Rec. H3470, May 23, 1988 (daily ed.); 134 Cong. Rec. S7510, June 9, 1988 (daily ed.). See also 134 Cong. Rec. E1946, June 10, 1988 (daily ed.). For an extended discussion of FRA’s prosecutorial discretion, see Nationwide Rail Safety: Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Transportation, Tourism, and Hazardous Materials of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, 100th Cong., 1st Sess., pp. 54–65 (1987). See also section 6 of this bill that provides that this bill restates, without substantive change, the provisions of law replaced by this bill, and that this bill may not be construed as making a substantive change in the law restated. Therefore, the word “shall” in this subsection has the same meaning it has under existing law. The words “A separate violation” are substituted for “a separate offense” for consistency.
In subsection (a)(3), the words “may compromise the amount . . . to not less than $500” are substituted for “may, however, be compromised . . . for any amount, but in no event for an amount less than the minimum provided in subsection (b) of this section” for clarity and to eliminate unnecessary words. In clause (B), the words “prior or subsequent” are omitted as unnecessary.
In subsection (c), the words “deposited in” are substituted for “covered into” for consistency in the revised title and with other titles of the United States Code.
heading: Pub. L. 104–287
text: This amends 49:21301(a)(1) to clarify the restatement of 45:438(a) by section 1 of the Act of July 5, 1994 (Public Law 103–272, 108 Stat. 891).
heading: Editorial Notes
heading: Amendments
text: 2021—Subsec. (a)(3), (4). Pub. L. 117–58 added pars. (3) and (4) and struck out former par. (3). Prior to amendment, par. (3) read as follows: “The Secretary may compromise the amount of a civil penalty imposed under this subsection to not less than $500 before referring the matter to the Attorney General for collection. In determining the amount of a compromise, the Secretary shall consider—
“(A) the nature, circumstances, extent, and gravity of the violation;
“(B) with respect to the violator, the degree of culpability, any history of violations, the ability to pay, and any effect on the ability to continue to do business; and
“(C) other matters that justice requires.”
2008—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 110–432, § 204(d)(1), inserted “with section 20160 or” after “comply” and “section 20160 of this title or” after “violating”.
Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 110–432, § 302(a), substituted “$25,000.” for “$10,000.” and “$100,000.” for “$20,000.”
Pub. L. 110–432, § 204(d)(2), inserted “The Secretary shall impose a civil penalty for a violation of section 20160 of this title.” after first sentence.
1996—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 104–287, § 5(53)(B), substituted “Secretary under chapter 201 is liable” for “Secretary of Transportation under chapter 201 of this title is liable”.
Pub. L. 104–287, § 5(53)(A), inserted “A person may not fail to comply with a regulation prescribed or order issued by the Secretary of Transportation under chapter 201 of this title.” before “Subject to”.
heading: Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
heading: Effective Date of 1996 Amendment
text: Amendment by Pub. L. 104–287 effective July 5, 1994, see section 8(1) of Pub. L. 104–287, set out as a note under section 5303 of this title.