---
kind: "section"
citation: "49 U.S.C. § 16103"
title: "49"
title_heading: "Transportation"
number: "16103"
heading: "Unlawful disclosure of information"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/49/16103"
units:
  - "Subtitle IV — Interstate Transportation"
  - "Part C — Pipeline Carriers"
  - "Chapter 161 — Civil and Criminal Penalties"
---

# §16103. Unlawful disclosure of information

- (a) **General Prohibition.—** A [pipeline carrier](/usc/49/15102.md?p=2) providing [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9) subject to this part, or an officer, agent, or employee of that [carrier](/usc/49/13102.md?p=3), or another [person](/usc/49/13102.md?p=18) authorized to receive information from that [carrier](/usc/49/13102.md?p=3), that knowingly discloses to another [person](/usc/49/13102.md?p=18), except the shipper or consignee, or a [person](/usc/49/13102.md?p=18) who solicits or knowingly receives information about the nature, kind, quantity, destination, consignee, or routing of property tendered or delivered to that [carrier](/usc/49/13102.md?p=3) for [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9) provided under this part without the consent of the shipper or consignee, if that information may be used to the detriment of the shipper or consignee or may disclose improperly, to a competitor the business transactions of the shipper or consignee, is liable to the [United States](/usc/49/10102.md?p=10) for a civil penalty of not more than $1,000.
- (b) **Limitation on Statutory Construction.—** This part does not prevent a [pipeline carrier](/usc/49/15102.md?p=2) providing [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9) under this part from giving information—
  - (1) in response to legal process issued under authority of a court of the [United States](/usc/49/10102.md?p=10) or a [State](/usc/49/10102.md?p=8);
  - (2) to an officer, employee, or agent of the [United States](/usc/49/10102.md?p=10) Government, a [State](/usc/49/10102.md?p=8), or a territory or possession of the [United States](/usc/49/10102.md?p=10); or
  - (3) to another [carrier](/usc/49/13102.md?p=3) or its agent to adjust mutual traffic accounts in the ordinary course of business.
- (c) **Board Employee.—** An employee of the [Board](/usc/49/10102.md?p=1) delegated to make an inspection or examination under [section 15722](/usc/49/15722.md) who knowingly discloses information acquired during that inspection or examination, except as directed by the [Board](/usc/49/10102.md?p=1), a court, or a judge of that court, shall be fined under [title 18](/usc/18.md) or imprisoned for not more than 6 months, or both.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 104–88, title I, § 106(a), Dec. 29, 1995, 109 Stat. 931.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in section 11910 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.