---
kind: "section"
citation: "49 U.S.C. § 14702"
title: "49"
title_heading: "Transportation"
number: "14702"
heading: "Enforcement by the regulatory authority"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/49/14702"
units:
  - "Subtitle IV — Interstate Transportation"
  - "Part B — Motor Carriers, Water Carriers, Brokers, and Freight Forwarders"
  - "Chapter 147 — Enforcement; Investigations; Rights; Remedies"
---

# §14702. Enforcement by the regulatory authority

- (a) **In General.—** The [Secretary](/usc/49/13102.md?p=20) or the [Board](/usc/49/10102.md?p=1), as applicable, may bring a civil action—
  - (1) to enforce [section 14103 of this title](/usc/49/14103.md); or
  - (2) to enforce this part, or a regulation or order of the [Secretary](/usc/49/13102.md?p=20) or [Board](/usc/49/10102.md?p=1), as applicable, when violated by a [carrier](/usc/49/13102.md?p=3) or [broker](/usc/49/13102.md?p=2) providing [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9) or service subject to jurisdiction under subchapter I or III of [chapter 135](/usc/49/chstIV/ptB/ch135.md) of this title or by a [foreign motor carrier](/usc/49/13102.md?p=6) or [foreign motor private carrier](/usc/49/13102.md?p=7) providing [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9) registered under [section 13902 of this title](/usc/49/13902.md).
- (b) **Venue.—** In a civil action under [subsection (a)(2)](#a-2) of this section—
  - (1) trial is in the judicial district in which the [carrier](/usc/49/13102.md?p=3), [foreign motor carrier](/usc/49/13102.md?p=6), [foreign motor private carrier](/usc/49/13102.md?p=7), or [broker](/usc/49/13102.md?p=2) operates;
  - (2) process may be served without regard to the territorial limits of the district or of the [State](/usc/49/10102.md?p=8) in which the action is instituted; and
  - (3) a [person](/usc/49/13102.md?p=18) participating with a [carrier](/usc/49/13102.md?p=3) or [broker](/usc/49/13102.md?p=2) in a violation may be joined in the civil action without regard to the residence of the [person](/usc/49/13102.md?p=18).
- (c) **Standing.—** The [Board](/usc/49/10102.md?p=1), through its own attorneys, may bring or participate in any civil action involving [motor carrier](/usc/49/13102.md?p=14) undercharges.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 104–88, title I, § 103, Dec. 29, 1995, 109 Stat. 905.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in section 11702 of this title prior to the general amendment of this subtitle by Pub. L. 104–88, § 102(a).

### 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.