Title 49TransportationRelease 119-73

§14702 Enforcement by the regulatory authority

Title 49 › Subtitle SUBTITLE IV— - INTERSTATE TRANSPORTATION › Part PART B— - MOTOR CARRIERS, WATER CARRIERS, BROKERS, AND FREIGHT FORWARDERS › Chapter CHAPTER 147— - ENFORCEMENT; INVESTIGATIONS; RIGHTS; REMEDIES › § 14702

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary or the Board can file a civil lawsuit to enforce section 14103, this part, or their rules and orders when a carrier or broker under subchapter I or III of chapter 135, or a foreign motor carrier or foreign motor private carrier registered under section 13902, breaks those rules. For suits under subsection (a)(2), the trial must be in the judicial district where the carrier, foreign carrier, or broker operates. Legal papers can be served without regard to district or State lines, and anyone who helped the carrier or broker violate the law can be joined in the case no matter where they live. The Board, through its own lawyers, may bring or join cases about motor carrier undercharges.

Full Legal Text

Title 49, §14702

Transportation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Secretary or the Board, as applicable, may bring a civil action—
(1)to enforce section 14103 of this title; or
(2)to enforce this part, or a regulation or order of the Secretary or Board, as applicable, when violated by a carrier or broker providing transportation or service subject to jurisdiction under subchapter I or III of chapter 135 of this title or by a foreign motor carrier or foreign motor private carrier providing transportation registered under section 13902 of this title.
(b)In a civil action under subsection (a)(2) of this section—
(1)trial is in the judicial district in which the carrier, foreign motor carrier, foreign motor private carrier, or broker operates;
(2)process may be served without regard to the territorial limits of the district or of the State in which the action is instituted; and
(3)a person participating with a carrier or broker in a violation may be joined in the civil action without regard to the residence of the person.
(c)The Board, through its own attorneys, may bring or participate in any civil action involving motor carrier undercharges.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in section 11702 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.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

49 U.S.C. § 14702

Title 49Transportation

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73