---
kind: "section"
citation: "49 C.F.R. § 218.53"
title: "49"
number: "218.53"
heading: "Scope and definitions."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/49/218.53"
---

# §218.53. Scope and definitions.

- (a) This subpart establishes standards of conduct for railroads and individuals who operate or permit to be operated locomotives equipped with one or more of the safety devices identified in [paragraph (c)](#c) of this section.
- (b) Disable means to unlawfully render a device incapable of proper and effective action or to materially impair the functioning of that device.
- (c) Safety Device means any locomotive-mounted equipment used either to assure the locomotive engineer is alert, not physically incapacitated, and aware of and complying with the indications of a signal system or other operational control system, or a system used to record data concerning the operations of that locomotive or the train it is powering. See appendix C to this part for a statement of agency policy on this subject.
- (d) The provisions in §§ [218.59](/cfr/49/218.59.md) and [218.61](/cfr/49/218.61.md) do not apply to locomotive-mounted image or audio recording equipment on freight locomotives.

## Notes

### Amendments

[54 FR 5492, Feb. 3, 1989, as amended at 88 FR 70760, Oct. 12, 2023]

### Source

Source: 54 FR 5492, Feb. 3, 1989, unless otherwise noted.

### Authority

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 20103, 20107, 20131, 20138, 20144, 20168; 28 U.S.C. 2461 note; and 49 CFR 1.89.

### Source

Source: 44 FR 2175, Jan. 10, 1979, unless otherwise noted.

### Amendments

[54 FR 5492, Feb. 3, 1989, as amended at 88 FR 70760, Oct. 12, 2023]