---
kind: "section"
citation: "49 U.S.C. § 14707"
title: "49"
title_heading: "Transportation"
number: "14707"
heading: "Private enforcement of registration requirement"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/49/14707"
units:
  - "Subtitle IV — Interstate Transportation"
  - "Part B — Motor Carriers, Water Carriers, Brokers, and Freight Forwarders"
  - "Chapter 147 — Enforcement; Investigations; Rights; Remedies"
---

# §14707. Private enforcement of registration requirement

- (a) **In General.—** If a [person](/usc/49/13102.md?p=18) provides [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9) by [motor vehicle](/usc/49/13102.md?p=16) or service in clear violation of section 13901–13904 or [13906](/usc/49/13906.md), a [person](/usc/49/13102.md?p=18) injured by the [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9) or service may bring a civil action to enforce any such section. In a civil action under this subsection, trial is in the judicial district in which the [person](/usc/49/13102.md?p=18) who violated that section operates.
- (b) **Procedure.—** A copy of the complaint in a civil action under [subsection (a)](#a) shall be served on the [Secretary](/usc/49/13102.md?p=20) and a certificate of service must appear in the complaint filed with the court. The [Secretary](/usc/49/13102.md?p=20) may intervene in a civil action under [subsection (a)](#a). The [Secretary](/usc/49/13102.md?p=20) may notify the district court in which the action is pending that the [Secretary](/usc/49/13102.md?p=20) intends to consider the matter that is the subject of the complaint in a proceeding before the [Secretary](/usc/49/13102.md?p=20). When that notice is filed, the court shall stay further action pending disposition of the proceeding before the [Secretary](/usc/49/13102.md?p=20).
- (c) **Attorney’s Fees.—** In a civil action under [subsection (a)](#a), the court may determine the amount of and award a reasonable attorney’s fee to the prevailing party. That fee is in addition to costs allowable under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 104–88, title I, § 103, Dec. 29, 1995, 109 Stat. 910.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

The Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, referred to in subsec. (c), are set out in the Appendix to Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure.

### Prior Provisions

Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in section 11708 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.