Title 49, TransportationRelease 119-110

§5104 Representation and Tampering

Title 49 › SUBTITLE III — GENERAL AND INTERMODAL PROGRAMS › CHAPTER 51 — TRANSPORTATION OF HAZARDOUS MATERIAL › § 5104

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

You can only mark a package or its parts as safe, certified, or compliant, or say hazardous material is inside, if that is actually true under the rules. You must not illegally change, remove, or destroy required markings, documents, labels, or the packages, containers, or vehicles used to move hazardous materials.

Full Legal Text

Title 49, §5104

Transportation, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Representation.—
A person may represent, by marking or otherwise, that—
(1)a package, component of a package, or packaging for transporting hazardous material is safe, certified, or complies with this chapter only if the package, component of a package, or packaging meets the requirements of each applicable regulation prescribed under this chapter; or
(2)hazardous material is present in a package, container, motor vehicle, rail freight car, aircraft, or vessel only if the material is present.
(b)Tampering.—
No person may alter, remove, destroy, or otherwise tamper unlawfully with—
(1)a marking, label, placard, or description on a document required under this chapter or a regulation prescribed under this chapter; or
(2)a package, component of a package, or packaging, container, motor vehicle, rail freight car, aircraft, or vessel used to transport hazardous material.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Pub. L. 103–272 Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 5104(a)49 App.:1804(e).Jan. 3, 1975, Pub. L. 93–633, 88 Stat. 2156, § 105(e), (f); added Nov. 16, 1990, Pub. L. 101–615, § 5, 104 Stat. 3252. 5104(b)49 App.:1804(f). In subsection (a)(1), the words “the requirements of” and “applicable” are omitted as surplus. In subsection (b), before clause (1), the word “deface” is omitted as surplus. Pub. L. 103–429This amends 49:5104(a)(1) to clarify the restatement of 49 App.:1804(e)(1) by section 1 of the Act of July 5, 1994 (Public Law 103–272, 108 Stat. 761).

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2005—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 109–59, § 7106(a), substituted “a package, component of a package, or packaging for” for “a container, package, or packaging (or a component of a container, package, or packaging) for” and “the package, component of a package, or packaging meets” for “the container, package, or packaging (or a component of a container, package, or packaging) meets”. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 109–59, § 7106(b)(1), substituted “No person may” for “A person may not” in introductory provisions. Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 109–59, § 7106(b)(2), inserted “component of a package, or packaging,” after “package,”. 1994—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 103–429 inserted “applicable” after “each”. Pub. L. 103–311 substituted “, package, or packaging (or a component of a container, package, or packaging)” for “or package” in two places.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 1994 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 103–429 effective July 5, 1994, see section 9 of Pub. L. 103–429, set out as a note under section 321 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

49 U.S.C. § 5104

Title 49, Transportation

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110