---
kind: "section"
citation: "49 U.S.C. § 32914"
title: "49"
title_heading: "Transportation"
number: "32914"
heading: "Collecting civil penalties"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/49/32914"
units:
  - "Subtitle VI — Motor Vehicle and Driver Programs"
  - "Part C — Information, Standards, and Requirements"
  - "Chapter 329 — Automobile Fuel Economy"
---

# §32914. Collecting civil penalties

- (a) **Civil Actions.—** If a person does not pay a civil penalty after it becomes a final order of the Secretary of Transportation or a judgment of a court of appeals of the [United States](/usc/49/31301.md?p=15) for a circuit, the Attorney General shall bring a civil action in an appropriate district court of the [United States](/usc/49/31301.md?p=15) to collect the penalty. The validity and appropriateness of the final order imposing the penalty is not reviewable in the action.
- (b) **Priority of Claims.—** A claim of a creditor against a bankrupt or insolvent [manufacturer](/usc/49/30102.md?p=a-6) of automobiles has priority over a claim of the [United States](/usc/49/31301.md?p=15) Government against the [manufacturer](/usc/49/30102.md?p=a-6) for a civil penalty under [section 32912(b) of this title](/usc/49/32912.md?p=b) when the creditor’s claim is for credit extended before a final judgment (without regard to [section 32913(b)(1)](/usc/49/32913.md?p=b-1) and (2) of this title) in an action to collect under [subsection (a)](#a) of this section.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 103–272, § 1(e), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 1074.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Revised<br>Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| 32914(a) | 15:2008(b)(3) (last sentence), (c)(2). | Oct. 20, 1972, Pub. L. 92–513, 86 Stat. 947, § 508(b)(3) (last sentence), (6), (c)(2); added Dec. 22, 1975, Pub. L. 94–163, § 301, 89 Stat. 913, 914. |
| 32914(b) | 15:2008(b)(6). |  |

In subsection (a), the text of 15:2008(b)(3) (last sentence) is omitted as surplus because of 28:516 and 2461(a). The words “an assessment of” and “and unappealable” are omitted as surplus. The words “of the Secretary of Transportation” are added for clarity. The words “for a circuit” are added for consistency. The words “in favor of the Secretary” are omitted as surplus. The words “shall bring a civil action . . . to collect the penalty” are substituted for “shall recover the amount for which the manufacturer is liable” for consistency.

In subsection (b), the words “A claim of a creditor against a bankrupt or insolvent manufacturer of automobiles has priority over a claim of the United States Government against the manufacturer” are substituted for “A claim of the United States . . . against a manufacturer . . . shall, in the case of the bankruptcy or insolvency of such manufacturer, be subordinate to any claim of a creditor of such manufacturer” for clarity and to eliminate unnecessary words. The words “the date on which” are omitted as surplus.