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

Summary

The Transportation Secretary can file a civil lawsuit to make rail carriers follow an order and to make motor carriers, carriers of migrant workers, motor private carriers, and freight forwarders follow the chapter, its rules, or the Secretary’s orders. The Attorney General can also bring enforcement cases and criminal prosecutions, and must do so if the Secretary asks. At the Secretary’s request, the Attorney General may sue in a federal district court to fix violations of subchapter III of chapter 311 (except sections 31138 and 31139) or section 31502. The court can decide the case and order relief, including orders to make someone act or stop acting, temporary court-ordered relief, and punitive damages (money penalties). A person harmed because a rail carrier or freight forwarder ignored a Secretary’s order may sue to enforce that order. In cases against motor carriers under the law, the trial must be where the carrier operates, court papers can be served anywhere, and people who joined the violation can be added to the case no matter where they live.

Title 49, §507

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(a)The Secretary of Transportation may bring a civil action to enforce—

(1)an order of the Secretary under this chapter when violated by a rail carrier; and

(2)this chapter or a regulation or order of the Secretary under this chapter when violated by a motor carrier, motor carrier of migrant workers, motor private carrier, or freight forwarder.

(b)The Attorney General may, and on request of the Secretary shall, bring court proceedings to enforce this chapter or a regulation or order of the Secretary under this chapter and to prosecute a person violating this chapter or a regulation or order of the Secretary.

(c)The Attorney General, at the request of the Secretary, may bring an action in an appropriate district court of the United States for equitable relief to redress a violation by any person of a provision of subchapter III of chapter 311 (except section 31138 and 31139) or section 31502 of this title, or an order or regulation issued under any of those provisions. Such district court shall have jurisdiction to determine any such action and may grant such relief as is necessary or appropriate, including mandatory or prohibitive injunctive relief, interim equitable relief, and punitive damages.

(d)A person injured because a rail carrier or freight forwarder does not obey an order of the Secretary under this chapter may bring a civil action to enforce that order under this subsection.

(e)In a civil action brought under subsection (a)(2) of this section against a motor carrier, motor carrier of migrant workers, or motor private carrier—

(1)trial is in the judicial district in which the carrier operates;

(2)process may be served without regard to the territorial limits of the district or of the State in which the action is brought; and

(3)a person participating with the carrier in a violation may be joined in the civil action without regard to the residence of the person.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 50749:1655(f)(2).Oct. 15, 1966, Pub. L. 89–670, § 6(f)(2), 80 Stat. 940. 507(a), (d)49:304(a)(3) (last sentence) (related to “Sec. 322(b)”).Feb. 4, 1887, ch. 104, 24 Stat. 379, § 204(a)(3) (last sentence) (related to “Sec. 222(b)”); added Aug. 9, 1935, ch. 498, 49 Stat. 546. 49:304(a)(3a) (last sentence) (related to “Sec. 322(b)”).Feb 4, 1887, ch. 104, 24 Stat. 379, § 204(a)(3a) (last sentence) (related to “Sec. 222(b)”); added Aug. 3, 1956, ch. 905, § 2, 70 Stat. 958. The section is included because 49:1655(f)(2) gave the same administrative powers exercised by the Interstate Commerce Commission under certain sections of title 49 to the Secretary of Transportation to carry out duties transferred to the Secretary by 49:1655(e). See the revision notes for section 501 of the revised title for an explanation of the transfer under 49:1655(f)(2). The powers of the Commission have been codified in subtitle IV of the revised title. The comparable provisions of title 49 that are represented by the section may be found as follows: section 50749 U.S. CodeRevised Section (a)16(12) (related to Commission action).11702 322(b)(1) (less 1st sentence last 18 words, 2d sentence, last sentence).11702 1017(b)(1) (related to Commission action).11702 (b)12(1)(a) (last sentence less words before 1st semicolon and after last semicolon).11703 16(12) (related to action by the Attorney General).11703 20(9).11703 (c)16(12) (related to action by private person).11705 1017(b)(1) (related to action by the Attorney General).11703 (d)322(b)(1) (1st sentence last 18 words, 2d sentence, last sentence).11702 1017(b)(1) (related to action by private person).11705 See the revision notes for the revised sections for an explanation of changes made in the text. Changes not accounted for in those revision notes are as follows: In the section, the text of 49:322(b)(2) and (3) is not included for motor carriers of migrant workers and motor private carriers because those provisions, while included in the enumeration in 49:304(a)(3) and (3a), are not included in the specific enumeration of 49:1655(f)(2)(B)(ii). In subsections (a) and (d), the text of 49:304(a)(3) (last sentence 1st–7th words) and (3a) (last sentence 1st–5th words) is omitted as executed. In subsection (a), the words “or of any term or condition of any certificate or permit” are omitted as not applicable to this chapter. In subsection (a)(1), reference to a civil action to enforce an order for the payment of money is omitted as not applicable to this chapter.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1994—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 103–272 substituted “subchapter III of chapter 311 (except section 31138 and 31139) or section 31502 of this title” for “section 3102 of this title or the Motor Carrier Safety Act of 1984” and “any of those provisions” for “such section or Act”. 1984—Subsecs. (c) to (e). Pub. L. 98–554 added subsec. (c) and redesignated former subsecs. (c) and (d) as (d) and (e), respectively.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

DOT Implementation Plan Pub. L. 105–178, title IV, § 4026,

June 9, 1998, 112 Stat. 416, provided that: “(a) Assessment.—Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this section [

June 9, 1998], the Secretary [of Transportation] shall assess the scope of the problem of shippers, freight forwarders, brokers, consignees, or other persons (other than rail carriers, motor carriers, motor carriers of migrant workers, or motor private carriers) encouraging violations of chapter 5 of title 49, United States Code, or a regulation or order issued by the Secretary under such chapter. “(b) Submission of Implementation Plan.—After completion of the assessment under subsection (a), the Secretary may submit to the Congress a plan for implementing authority (if subsequently provided by law) to investigate and bring civil actions to enforce chapter 5 of title 49, United States Code, or

Regulations

or orders issued by the Secretary under such chapter with respect to persons described in subsection (a). “(c) Contents of Implementation Plan.—In developing the implementation plan under subsection (b), the Secretary shall consider, as appropriate—“(1) in what circumstances the Secretary would exercise the new authority; “(2) how the Secretary would determine that shippers, freight forwarders, brokers, consignees, or other persons committed violations described in subsection (a), including what types of evidence would be conclusive; “(3) what procedures would be necessary during investigations to ensure the confidentiality of shipper contract terms prior to the Secretary’s findings of violations; “(4) what impact the exercise of the new authority would have on the Secretary’s resources, including whether additional investigative or legal resources would be necessary and whether the staff would need specialized education or training to exercise properly such authority; “(5) to what extent the Secretary would conduct educational activities for persons who would be subject to the new authority; and “(6) any other information that would assist the Congress in determining whether to provide the Secretary the new authority.”

§507 Enforcement