PRIA, Government Policy, Made Personal

Summary

Imposes civil and criminal penalties on anyone who breaks sections 2614 or 2689. For civil cases, a person can be fined up to $37,500 for each violation, and each day the violation continues counts as a separate violation. The Administrator must give written notice and offer a hearing if the person asks within 15 days. When setting the fine, the Administrator will look at how serious the violation was, how it happened, the violator’s ability to pay, effects on the business, any past violations, and blame. The Administrator can reduce or settle the fine and may take the amount from money the United States owes the person. If a person asks for a hearing and loses, they can ask a federal appeals court to review the order within 30 days. If the person does not pay a final fine, the Attorney General will sue to collect it with interest, and the court will not re‑hear the penalty issues. For criminal cases, anyone who knowingly or willfully violates those sections can be fined up to $50,000 per day, imprisoned up to one year, or both. If the violator knew the act put someone in imminent danger of death or serious injury, the penalty is up to $250,000, up to 15 years in prison, or both. An organization that commits that dangerous violation can be fined up to $1,000,000. Subparagraphs (B) through (F) of section 7413(c)(5) of title 42 apply to these prosecutions.

Title 15, §2615

Commerce and Trade, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Civil

(1)Any person who violates a provision of section 2614 or 2689 of this title shall be liable to the United States for a civil penalty in an amount not to exceed $37,500 for each such violation. Each day such a violation continues shall, for purposes of this subsection, constitute a separate violation of section 2614 or 2689 of this title.

(2)(A)A civil penalty for a violation of section section 2614 or 2689 of this title shall be assessed by the Administrator by an order made on the record after opportunity (provided in accordance with this subparagraph) for a hearing in accordance with section 554 of title 5. Before issuing such an order, the Administrator shall give written notice to the person to be assessed a civil penalty under such order of the Administrator’s proposal to issue such order and provide such person an opportunity to request, within 15 days of the date the notice is received by such person, such a hearing on the order.

(B)In determining the amount of a civil penalty, the Administrator shall take into account the nature, circumstances, extent, and gravity of the violation or violations and, with respect to the violator, ability to pay, effect on ability to continue to do business, any history of prior such violations, the degree of culpability, and such other matters as justice may require.

(C)The Administrator may compromise, modify, or remit, with or without conditions, any civil penalty which may be imposed under this subsection. The amount of such penalty, when finally determined, or the amount agreed upon in compromise, may be deducted from any sums owing by the United States to the person charged.

(3)Any person who requested in accordance with paragraph (2)(A) a hearing respecting the assessment of a civil penalty and who is aggrieved by an order assessing a civil penalty may file a petition for judicial review of such order with the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit or for any other circuit in which such person resides or transacts business. Such a petition may only be filed within the 30-day period beginning on the date the order making such assessment was issued.

(4)If any person fails to pay an assessment of a civil penalty—

(A)after the order making the assessment has become a final order and if such person does not file a petition for judicial review of the order in accordance with paragraph (3), or

(B)after a court in an action brought under paragraph (3) has entered a final judgment in favor of the Administrator,

the Attorney General shall recover the amount assessed (plus interest at currently prevailing rates from the date of the expiration of the 30-day period referred to in paragraph (3) or the date of such final judgment, as the case may be) in an action brought in any appropriate district court of the United States. In such an action, the validity, amount, and appropriateness of such penalty shall not be subject to review.

(b)Criminal

(1)In general

Any person who knowingly or willfully violates any provision of section 2614 or 2689 of this title, shall, in addition to or in lieu of any civil penalty which may be imposed under subsection (a) of this section for such violation, be subject, upon conviction, to a fine of not more than $50,000 for each day of violation, or to imprisonment for not more than one year, or both.

(2)Imminent danger of death or serious bodily injury

(A)In general

Any person who knowingly and willfully violates any provision of section 2614 or 2689 of this title, and who knows at the time of the violation that the violation places an individual in imminent danger of death or serious bodily injury, shall be subject on conviction to a fine of not more than $250,000, or imprisonment for not more than 15 years, or both.

(B)Organizations

Notwithstanding the penalties described in subparagraph (A), an organization that commits a knowing violation described in subparagraph (A) shall be subject on conviction to a fine of not more than $1,000,000 for each violation.

(C)Incorporation of corresponding provisions

Subparagraphs (B) through (F) of section 7413(c)(5) of title 42 shall apply to the prosecution of a violation under this paragraph.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2016—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 114–182, § 12(1), substituted “$37,500” for “$25,000”. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 114–182, § 12(2), designated existing provisions as par. (1), inserted heading, substituted “$50,000” for “$25,000”, and added par. (2). 1992—Subsecs. (a)(1), (2)(A), (b). Pub. L. 102–550 substituted “section 2614 or 2689 of this title” for “section 2614 of this title” wherever appearing.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Section effective Jan. 1, 1977, see section 31 of Pub. L. 94–469, set out as a note under section 2601 of this title.

§2615 Penalties