--- kind: "section" citation: "49 U.S.C. § 20111" title: "49" title_heading: "Transportation" number: "20111" heading: "Enforcement by the Secretary of Transportation" release: "119-102" date: "2026-07-12" url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/49/20111" units: - "Subtitle V — Rail Programs" - "Part A — Safety" - "Chapter 201 — General" - "Subchapter I — General" --- # §20111. Enforcement by the Secretary of Transportation - (a) **Exclusive Authority.—** The [Secretary](/usc/49/22401.md?p=14) of Transportation has exclusive authority— - (1) to impose and compromise a civil penalty for a violation of a [railroad](/usc/49/22401.md?p=12) safety regulation prescribed or order issued by the [Secretary](/usc/49/22401.md?p=14); - (2) except as provided in [section 20113 of this title](/usc/49/20113.md), to request an injunction for a violation of a [railroad](/usc/49/22401.md?p=12) safety regulation prescribed or order issued by the [Secretary](/usc/49/22401.md?p=14); and - (3) to recommend appropriate action be taken under [section 20112(a) of this title](/usc/49/20112.md?p=a). - (b) **Compliance Orders.—** The [Secretary](/usc/49/22401.md?p=14) may issue an order directing compliance with this part or with a [railroad](/usc/49/22401.md?p=12) safety regulation prescribed or order issued under this part. - (c) **Orders Prohibiting Individuals From Performing Safety-Sensitive Functions.—** - (1) If an individual’s violation of this part, [chapter 51](/usc/49/chstIII/ch51.md) of this title, or a regulation prescribed, or an order issued, by the [Secretary](/usc/49/22401.md?p=14) under this part or [chapter 51](/usc/49/chstIII/ch51.md) of this title is shown to make that individual unfit for the performance of safety-sensitive functions, the [Secretary](/usc/49/22401.md?p=14), after providing notice and an opportunity for a hearing, may issue an order prohibiting the individual from performing safety-sensitive functions in the [railroad](/usc/49/22401.md?p=12) industry for a specified period of time or until specified conditions are met. - (2) This subsection does not affect the [Secretary](/usc/49/22401.md?p=14)’s authority under [section 20104 of this title](/usc/49/20104.md) to act on an emergency basis. - (d) **Regulations Requiring Reporting of Remedial Actions.—** - (1) The [Secretary](/usc/49/22401.md?p=14) shall prescribe regulations to require that a [railroad carrier](/usc/49/20102.md?p=3) notified by the [Secretary](/usc/49/22401.md?p=14) that imposition of a civil penalty will be recommended for a failure to comply with this part, chapter [51](/usc/49/chstIII/ch51.md) or [57](/usc/49/chstIII/ch57.md) of this title, or a regulation prescribed or order issued under any of those provisions, shall report to the [Secretary](/usc/49/22401.md?p=14), not later than the 30th day after the end of the month in which the notification is received— - (A) actions taken to remedy the failure; or - (B) if appropriate remedial actions cannot be taken by that 30th day, an explanation of the reasons for the delay. - (2) The [Secretary](/usc/49/22401.md?p=14)— - (A) not later than June 3, 1993, shall issue a notice of a regulatory proceeding for proposed regulations to carry out this subsection; and - (B) not later than September 3, 1994, shall prescribe final regulations to carry out this subsection. ## Source credit (Pub. L. 103–272, § 1(e), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 868; Pub. L. 103–440, title II, § 205, Nov. 2, 1994, 108 Stat. 4620; Pub. L. 110–432, div. A, title III, § 305, Oct. 16, 2008, 122 Stat. 4879.) ## Notes | Historical and Revision Notes | | | | --- | --- | --- | | Revised
Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) | | 20111(a) | 45:435(a) (last sentence). | Oct. 16, 1970, Pub. L. 91–458, § 206(a) (last sentence), 84 Stat. 973; Nov. 16, 1990, Pub. L. 101–615, § 28(a)(4), 104 Stat. 3276. | | 20111(b) | 45:437(a) (2d sentence). | Oct. 16, 1970, Pub. L. 91–458, 84 Stat. 971, § 208(a) (2d sentence); added Jan. 3, 1975, Pub. L. 93–633, § 206, 88 Stat. 2166; June 22, 1988, Pub. L. 100–342, § 8, 102 Stat. 628. | | | 45:437(d)(1) (last sentence). | Oct. 16, 1970, Pub. L. 91–458, 84 Stat. 971, § 208(d)(1) (last sentence); added Oct. 10, 1980, Pub. L. 96–423, § 6(b), 94 Stat. 1814. | | 20111(c) | 45:438(f). | Oct. 16, 1970, Pub. L. 91–458, 84 Stat. 971, § 209(f); added June 22, 1988, Pub. L. 100–342, § 3(a)(4), 102 Stat. 625. | | 20111(d) | 45:437 (note). | Sept. 3, 1992, Pub. L. 102–365, § 3, 106 Stat. 972. | In this section, the word “impose” is substituted for “assess” for consistency. In subsection (b), the word “further” is omitted as surplus. In subsection (d), the words “this part, chapter 51 or 57 of this title” are substituted for “the Federal railroad safety laws, as such term is defined in section 441(e) of this title” because 45:441(e) is not restated as a definition. ### Editorial Notes ### Amendments 2008—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 110–432 amended subsec. (c) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “If an individual’s violation of this chapter or any of the laws transferred to the jurisdiction of the Secretary of Transportation by subsection (e)(1), (2), and (6)(A) of section 6 of the Department of Transportation Act, as in effect on June 1, 1994, or a regulation prescribed or order issued by the Secretary under this chapter is shown to make that individual unfit for the performance of safety-sensitive functions, the Secretary, after notice and opportunity for a hearing, may issue an order prohibiting the individual from performing safety-sensitive functions in the railroad industry for a specified period of time or until specified conditions are met. This subsection does not affect the Secretary’s authority under section 20104 of this title to act on an emergency basis.” 1994—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 103–440 inserted “this chapter or any of the laws transferred to the jurisdiction of the Secretary of Transportation by subsection (e)(1), (2), and (6)(A) of section 6 of the Department of Transportation Act, as in effect on June 1, 1994, or” after “individual’s violation of”.