Title 6 — Domestic SecurityRelease 119-73

§1144 Limitation on fines and civil penalties

Title 6 › Chapter CHAPTER 4— - TRANSPORTATION SECURITY › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER III— - PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SECURITY › § 1144

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Surface transportation inspectors must not fine public transportation agencies except by the process described below. The Secretary must not assess money penalties on those agencies unless the Secretary first sends a written notice describing the violation and gives the agency a reasonable time to fix it or suggest a different way to comply. If the agency does not act in the time set in the notice, the Secretary may use the actions allowed in section 114 of title 49. The Secretary must not start civil enforcement for violations of paperwork or spending rules tied to transportation security grant programs under this subchapter.

Full Legal Text

Title 6, §1144

Domestic Security — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Surface transportation inspectors shall be prohibited from issuing fines to public transportation agencies for violations of the Department’s regulations or orders except through the process described in subsection (b).

(b)The Secretary shall be prohibited from assessing civil penalties against public transportation agencies for violations of the Department’s regulations or orders, except in accordance with the following:

(1)In the case of a public transportation agency that is found to be in violation of a regulation or order issued by the Secretary, the Secretary shall seek correction of the violation through a written notice to the public transportation agency and shall give the public transportation agency reasonable opportunity to correct the violation or propose an alternative means of compliance acceptable to the Secretary.

(2)If the public transportation agency does not correct the violation or propose an alternative means of compliance acceptable to the Secretary within a reasonable time period that is specified in the written notice, the Secretary may take any action authorized in section 114 of title 49.

(c)The Secretary shall not initiate civil enforcement actions for violations of administrative and procedural requirements pertaining to the application for and expenditure of funds awarded under transportation security grant programs under this subchapter.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

6 U.S.C. § 1144

Title 6 — Domestic Security

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73