Title 6 — Domestic SecurityRelease 119-73not60

§1144 Limitation on Fines and Civil Penalties

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

Last updated Apr 3, 2026|Official source

Summary

Surface transportation inspectors may not fine public transportation agencies unless the process below is used. The Secretary may not assess civil penalties against a public transportation agency without first sending a written notice, giving the agency a reasonable chance to fix the violation or offer an acceptable alternative, and allowing the time stated in the notice to pass. If the agency fails to act in that time, the Secretary may take any action allowed by section 114 of title 49. The Secretary must not start civil enforcement for violations of administrative or procedural rules for applying for or spending funds from 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 3, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60