---
kind: "section"
citation: "6 U.S.C. § 1113"
title: "6"
title_heading: "Domestic Security"
number: "1113"
heading: "Surface transportation security inspectors"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/6/1113"
units:
  - "Chapter 4 — Transportation Security"
  - "Subchapter II — Transportation Security Enhancements"
---

# §1113. Surface transportation security inspectors

- (a) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/6/1101.md?p=2), acting through the [Administrator](/usc/6/701.md?p=1) of the Transportation Security Administration, is authorized to train, employ, and utilize surface transportation security inspectors.
- (b) **Mission—** The [Secretary](/usc/6/1101.md?p=2) shall use surface transportation security inspectors to assist surface transportation carriers, operators, owners, [entities](/usc/6/301c.md?p=2), and facilities to enhance their security against terrorist attack and other security threats and to assist the [Secretary](/usc/6/1101.md?p=2) in enforcing applicable surface transportation security regulations and directives.
- (c) **Authorities—** Surface transportation security inspectors employed pursuant to this section shall be authorized such powers and delegated such responsibilities as the [Secretary](/usc/6/1101.md?p=2) determines appropriate, subject to [subsection (e)](#e).
- (d) **Requirements—** The [Secretary](/usc/6/1101.md?p=2) shall require that surface transportation security inspectors have relevant transportation experience and other security and inspection qualifications, as determined appropriate.
- (e) **Limitations—**
  - (1) **Inspectors—** Surface transportation inspectors shall be prohibited from issuing fines to public transportation [agencies](/usc/6/671.md?p=1), as defined in subchapter III, for violations of the [Department](/usc/6/1101.md?p=1)’s regulations or orders except through the process described in [paragraph (2)](#e-2).
  - (2) **Civil penalties—** The [Secretary](/usc/6/1101.md?p=2) shall be prohibited from assessing civil penalties against public transportation [agencies](/usc/6/671.md?p=1), as defined in subchapter III, for violations of the [Department](/usc/6/1101.md?p=1)’s regulations or orders, except in accordance with the following:
    - (A) In the case of a public transportation [agency](/usc/6/671.md?p=1) that is found to be in violation of a regulation or order issued by the [Secretary](/usc/6/1101.md?p=2), the [Secretary](/usc/6/1101.md?p=2) shall seek correction of the violation through a written notice to the public transportation [agency](/usc/6/671.md?p=1) and shall give the public transportation [agency](/usc/6/671.md?p=1) reasonable opportunity to correct the violation or propose an alternative means of compliance acceptable to the [Secretary](/usc/6/1101.md?p=2).
    - (B) If the public transportation [agency](/usc/6/671.md?p=1) does not correct the violation or propose an alternative means of compliance acceptable to the [Secretary](/usc/6/1101.md?p=2) within a reasonable time period that is specified in the written notice, the [Secretary](/usc/6/1101.md?p=2) may take any action authorized in [section 114 of title 49](/usc/49/114.md).
  - (3) **Limitation on Secretary—** The [Secretary](/usc/6/1101.md?p=2) shall not initiate civil enforcement actions for violations of administrative and procedural requirements pertaining to the application for, and expenditure of, [funds](/usc/6/677a.md?p=5) awarded under transportation security grant programs under this Act.
- (f) **Number of inspectors—** The [Secretary](/usc/6/1101.md?p=2) shall employ up to a total of—
  - (1) 100 surface transportation security inspectors in fiscal year 2007;
  - (2) 150 surface transportation security inspectors in fiscal year 2008;
  - (3) 175 surface transportation security inspectors in fiscal year 2009; and
  - (4) 200 surface transportation security inspectors in fiscal years 2010 and 2011.
- (g) **Coordination—** The [Secretary](/usc/6/1101.md?p=2) shall ensure that the mission of the surface transportation security inspectors is consistent with any relevant risk assessments required by this Act or completed by the [Department](/usc/6/1101.md?p=1), the modal plans required under [section 114(t)](/usc/6/114.md)[^1] of title 49, the Memorandum of Understanding between the [Department](/usc/6/1101.md?p=1) and the [Department](/usc/6/1101.md?p=1) of Transportation on Roles and Responsibilities, dated September 28, 2004, and any and all subsequent annexes to this Memorandum of Understanding, and other relevant documents setting forth the [Department](/usc/6/1101.md?p=1)’s transportation security strategy, as appropriate.
- (h) **Consultation—** The [Secretary](/usc/6/1101.md?p=2) shall periodically consult with the surface transportation [entities](/usc/6/301c.md?p=2) which are or may be inspected by the surface transportation security inspectors, including, as appropriate, railroad carriers, over-the-road bus operators and terminal owners and operators, motor carriers, public transportation [agencies](/usc/6/671.md?p=1), owners or operators of highways, and pipeline operators on—
  - (1) the inspectors’ duties, responsibilities, authorities, and mission; and
  - (2) strategies to improve transportation security and to ensure compliance with transportation security requirements.
- (i) **Report—** Not later than September 30, 2008, the [Department](/usc/6/1101.md?p=1) of [Homeland](/usc/6/101.md?p=1) Security Inspector General shall transmit a report to the [appropriate congressional committees](/usc/6/1111.md?p=1) on the performance and effectiveness of surface transportation security inspectors, whether there is a need for additional inspectors, and other recommendations.
- (j) **Authorization of appropriations—** There are authorized to be appropriated to the [Secretary](/usc/6/1101.md?p=2) to carry out this section—
  - (1) $11,400,000 for fiscal year 2007;
  - (2) $17,100,000 for fiscal year 2008;
  - (3) $19,950,000 for fiscal year 2009;
  - (4) $22,800,000 for fiscal year 2010; and
  - (5) $22,800,000 for fiscal year 2011.

## Footnotes

[^1]: See References in Text note below.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 110–53, title XIII, § 1304, Aug. 3, 2007, 121 Stat. 393.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

This Act, referred to in subsecs. (e)(3) and (g), is Pub. L. 110–53, Aug. 3, 2007, 121 Stat. 266, known as the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007, which enacted this chapter and enacted and amended numerous other sections and notes in the Code. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title of 2007 Amendment note set out under section 101 of this title and Tables.

Section 114(t) of title 49, referred to in subsec. (g), was redesignated section 114(s) of title 49 by Pub. L. 110–161, div. E, title V, § 568(a), Dec. 26, 2007, 121 Stat. 2092.