---
kind: "section"
citation: "49 U.S.C. § 16101"
title: "49"
title_heading: "Transportation"
number: "16101"
heading: "General civil penalties"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/49/16101"
units:
  - "Subtitle IV — Interstate Transportation"
  - "Part C — Pipeline Carriers"
  - "Chapter 161 — Civil and Criminal Penalties"
---

# §16101. General civil penalties

- (a) **General.—** Except as otherwise provided in this section, a [pipeline carrier](/usc/49/15102.md?p=2) providing [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9) subject to this part, an officer or agent of that [carrier](/usc/49/13102.md?p=3), 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) 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) **Recordkeeping and Reporting.—**
  - (1) **Records.—** A [person](/usc/49/13102.md?p=18) required under [chapter 157](/usc/49/chstIV/ptC/ch157.md) 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 this part that does not make, prepare, preserve, or submit that record as required under that chapter, is liable to the [United States](/usc/49/10102.md?p=10) for a civil penalty of $500 for each violation.
  - (2) **Inspection.—** A [carrier](/usc/49/13102.md?p=3) providing [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9) subject to this part, and a lessor, receiver, or trustee of that [carrier](/usc/49/13102.md?p=3), violating [section 15722](/usc/49/15722.md), is liable to the [United States](/usc/49/10102.md?p=10) for a civil penalty of $100 for each violation.
  - (3) **Reports.—** A [carrier](/usc/49/13102.md?p=3) 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 [carrier](/usc/49/13102.md?p=3), 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) for a civil penalty of $100 for each violation.
  - (4) **Continued violation.—** A separate violation occurs for each day violation under this subsection continues.
- (c) **Venue.—** Trial in a civil action under this section is in the judicial district in which the [carrier](/usc/49/13102.md?p=3) has its principal operating office.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 104–88, title I, § 106(a), Dec. 29, 1995, 109 Stat. 930; amended Pub. L. 105–102, § 2(16), Nov. 20, 1997, 111 Stat. 2205.)

## Notes

### Historical and Revision Notes

### Pub. L. 105–102

This amends 49:16101 to redesignate subsection (d) as (c) because no subsection (c) was enacted.

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in section 11901 of this title prior to the general amendment of this subtitle by Pub. L. 104–88, § 102(a).

### Amendments

1997—Subsecs. (c), (d). Pub. L. 105–102 redesignated subsec. (d) as (c).

### 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.