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49 U.S.C. § 20138

Title 49 Chapter 201 Current through PL 118-3 Last updated: March 29, 2026 View on OLRC →
Sections in this chapter

§ 20138. Tampering with safety and operational monitoring devices

  • (a) The Secretary of Transportation shall prescribe regulations and issue orders to prohibit the willful tampering with, or disabling of, any specified railroad safety or operational monitoring device.
  • (b)
    • (1) A railroad carrier operating a train on which a safety or operational monitoring device is tampered with or disabled in violation of a regulation prescribed or order issued under subsection (a) of this section is liable to the United States Government for a civil penalty under section 21301 of this title .
    • (2) An individual tampering with or disabling a safety or operational monitoring device in violation of a regulation prescribed or order issued under subsection (a) of this section, or knowingly operating or allowing to be operated a train on which such a device has been tampered with or disabled, is liable for penalties established by the Secretary. The penalties may include—
      • (A) a civil penalty under section 21301 of this title ;
      • (B) suspension from work; and
      • (C) suspension or loss of a license or certification issued under section 20135 of this title .

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