§16103 — Title 49 Transportation | U.S. Code

Summary

Pipeline carriers and anyone with access to their shipping records must not knowingly tell others shipment details to anyone except the shipper, the consignee, or someone who asked for and knowingly got the information, when those details could hurt the shipper or consignee or reveal their business to a competitor. Violators can be fined up to $1,000. Disclosure is allowed by court order, to government officials, or to other carriers to settle accounts. A Board employee inspecting under section 15722 who knowingly reveals inspection information without the Board’s or a court’s direction may be punished under Title 18 — up to 6 months in jail, a fine, or both.

Title 49, §16103

Transportation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)A pipeline carrier providing transportation subject to this part, or an officer, agent, or employee of that carrier, or another person authorized to receive information from that carrier, that knowingly discloses to another person, except the shipper or consignee, or a person who solicits or knowingly receives information about the nature, kind, quantity, destination, consignee, or routing of property tendered or delivered to that carrier for transportation 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 for a civil penalty of not more than $1,000.

(b)This part does not prevent a pipeline carrier providing transportation under this part from giving information—

(1)in response to legal process issued under authority of a court of the United States or a State;

(2)to an officer, employee, or agent of the United States Government, a State, or a territory or possession of the United States; or

(3)to another carrier or its agent to adjust mutual traffic accounts in the ordinary course of business.

(c)An employee of the Board delegated to make an inspection or examination under section 15722 who knowingly discloses information acquired during that inspection or examination, except as directed by the Board, a court, or a judge of that court, shall be fined under title 18 or imprisoned for not more than 6 months, or both.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

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.

§16103 Unlawful disclosure of information