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Title 49 — TransportationRelease 119-73not60

§20132 Visible Markers for Rear Cars

Title 49 › Subtitle SUBTITLE V— RAIL PROGRAMS › Part A— SAFETY › Chapter 201— GENERAL › Subchapter II— PARTICULAR ASPECTS OF SAFETY › § 20132

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary of Transportation must make rules and orders so rear cars of trains have highly visible markers. Passenger and commuter trains must have at least one marker on the rear car that is lit at night and when weather makes visibility poor. Freight trains must have highly visible markers on the rear car during darkness and low-visibility weather. Even so, a State may keep any law, rule, or order it had on July 8, 1976 about lit markers on the rear car of a freight train, unless that law would conflict with these federal requirements.

Full Legal Text

Title 49, §20132

Transportation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Secretary of Transportation shall prescribe regulations and issue orders that may be necessary to require that—
(1)the rear car of each passenger and commuter train has at least one highly visible marker that is lighted during darkness and when weather conditions restrict clear visibility; and
(2)the rear car of each freight train has highly visible markers during darkness and when weather conditions restrict clear visibility.
(b)Notwithstanding section 20106 of this title, subsection (a) of this section does not prohibit a State from continuing in force a law, regulation, or order in effect on July 8, 1976, related to lighted markers on the rear car of a freight train except to the extent it would cause the car to be in violation of this section.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 20132(a)45:431(g) (1st sentence cls. (2), (3)).Oct. 16, 1970, Pub. L. 91–458, 84 Stat. 971, § 202(g) (1st sentence cls. (2), (3), last sentence); added July 8, 1976, Pub. L. 94–348, § 5(b), 90 Stat. 820. 20132(b)45:431(g) (last sentence). In subsection (a), before clause (1), the words “within 180 days after July 8, 1976” are omitted as expired.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

49 U.S.C. § 20132

Title 49 — Transportation

Last Updated

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60