---
kind: "section"
citation: "49 U.S.C. § 11901"
title: "49"
title_heading: "Transportation"
number: "11901"
heading: "General civil penalties"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/49/11901"
units:
  - "Subtitle IV — Interstate Transportation"
  - "Part A — Rail"
  - "Chapter 119 — Civil and Criminal Penalties"
---

# §11901. General civil penalties

- (a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, a [rail carrier](/usc/49/10102.md?p=5) providing [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9) subject to the jurisdiction of the [Board](/usc/49/10102.md?p=1) under this part, an officer or agent of that [rail carrier](/usc/49/10102.md?p=5), or a receiver, trustee, lessee, or agent of one of them, knowingly violating this part or an order of the [Board](/usc/49/10102.md?p=1) under this part is liable to the [United States](/usc/49/10102.md?p=10) Government for a civil penalty of not more than $5,000 for each violation. Liability under this subsection is incurred for each distinct violation. A separate violation occurs for each day the violation continues.
- (b) A [rail carrier](/usc/49/10102.md?p=5) providing [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9) subject to the jurisdiction of the [Board](/usc/49/10102.md?p=1) under this part, or a receiver or trustee of that [rail carrier](/usc/49/10102.md?p=5), violating a regulation or order of the [Board](/usc/49/10102.md?p=1) under [section 11124(a)(2)](/usc/49/11124.md?p=a-2) or (b) of this title is liable to the [United States](/usc/49/10102.md?p=10) Government for a civil penalty of $500 for each violation and for $25 for each day the violation continues.
- (c) A [person](/usc/49/13102.md?p=18) knowingly authorizing, consenting to, or permitting a violation of sections [10901](/usc/49/10901.md) through [10906](/usc/49/10906.md) of this title or of a requirement or a regulation under any of those sections, is liable to the [United States](/usc/49/10102.md?p=10) Government for a civil penalty of not more than $5,000.
- (d) A [rail carrier](/usc/49/10102.md?p=5), receiver, or operating trustee violating an order or direction of the [Board](/usc/49/10102.md?p=1) under section [11123](/usc/49/11123.md) or [11124(a)(1)](/usc/49/11124.md?p=a-1) of this title is liable to the [United States](/usc/49/10102.md?p=10) Government for a civil penalty of at least $100 but not more than $500 for each violation and for $50 for each day the violation continues.
- (e)
  - (1) A [person](/usc/49/13102.md?p=18) required under subchapter III of [chapter 111](/usc/49/chstIV/ptA/ch111.md) of this title to make, prepare, preserve, or submit to the [Board](/usc/49/10102.md?p=1) a record concerning [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9) subject to the jurisdiction of the [Board](/usc/49/10102.md?p=1) under this part that does not make, prepare, preserve, or submit that record as required under that subchapter, is liable to the [United States](/usc/49/10102.md?p=10) Government for a civil penalty of $500 for each violation.
  - (2) A [rail carrier](/usc/49/10102.md?p=5) providing [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9) subject to the jurisdiction of the [Board](/usc/49/10102.md?p=1) under this part, and a lessor, receiver, or trustee of that [rail carrier](/usc/49/10102.md?p=5), violating [section 11144(b)(1) of this title](/usc/49/11144.md?p=b-1), is liable to the [United States](/usc/49/10102.md?p=10) Government for a civil penalty of $100 for each violation.
  - (3) A [rail carrier](/usc/49/10102.md?p=5) providing [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9) subject to the jurisdiction of the [Board](/usc/49/10102.md?p=1) under this part, a lessor, receiver, or trustee of that [rail carrier](/usc/49/10102.md?p=5), a [person](/usc/49/13102.md?p=18) furnishing cars, and an officer, agent, or employee of one of them, required to make a report to the [Board](/usc/49/10102.md?p=1) or answer a question that does not make the report or does not specifically, completely, and truthfully answer the question, is liable to the [United States](/usc/49/10102.md?p=10) Government for a civil penalty of $100 for each violation.
  - (4) A separate violation occurs for each day a violation under this subsection continues.
- (f) Trial in a civil action under subsections [(a)](#a) through [(e)](#e) of this section is in the judicial district in which the [rail carrier](/usc/49/10102.md?p=5) has its principal operating office or in a district through which the [railroad](/usc/49/10102.md?p=6) of the [rail carrier](/usc/49/10102.md?p=5) runs.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 104–88, title I, § 102(a), Dec. 29, 1995, 109 Stat. 849.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 11901, Pub. L. 95–473, Oct. 17, 1978, 92 Stat. 1455; Pub. L. 96–454, § 8(a), Oct. 15, 1980, 94 Stat. 2019; Pub. L. 96–510, title III, § 306(c), Dec. 11, 1980, 94 Stat. 2810; Pub. L. 97–261, § 23, Sept. 20, 1982, 96 Stat. 1124; Pub. L. 98–554, title II, §§ 226(c)(6), 227(a)(1), Oct. 30, 1984, 98 Stat. 2852; Pub. L. 103–180, §§ 6(b), 7(c), Dec. 3, 1993, 107 Stat. 2051, 2052, related to general civil penalties, prior to the general amendment of this subtitle by Pub. L. 104–88, § 102(a). See sections 11901, 14901, and 16101 of this title.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section effective Jan. 1, 1996, except as otherwise provided in Pub. L. 104–88, see section 2 of Pub. L. 104–88, set out as a note under section 1301 of this title.