Us Code § 20120 - Enforcement report

Full text of Us Code United States Code § 20120 — Enforcement report, with citation guidance and answers to common questions.

§ 20120. Enforcement report

(a) 1 In General.—Beginning not later than December 31, 2009, the Secretary of Transportation shall make available to the public and publish on its public Web site an annual report that—

(1) provides a summary of railroad safety and hazardous materials compliance inspections and audits that Federal or State inspectors conducted in the prior fiscal year organized by type of alleged violation, including track, motive power and equipment, signal, grade crossing, operating practices, accident and incident reporting, and hazardous materials;

(2) provides a summary of all enforcement actions taken by the Secretary or the Federal Railroad Administration during the prior fiscal year, including—

(A) the number of civil penalties assessed;

(B) the initial amount of civil penalties assessed;

(C) the number of civil penalty cases settled;

(D) the final amount of civil penalties assessed;

(E) the difference between the initial and final amounts of civil penalties assessed;

(F) the number of administrative hearings requested and completed related to hazardous materials transportation law violations or enforcement actions against individuals;

(G) the number of cases referred to the Attorney General for civil or criminal prosecution; and

(H) the number and subject matter of all compliance orders, emergency orders, or precursor agreements;


(3) analyzes the effect of the number of inspections conducted and enforcement actions taken on the number and rate of reported accidents and incidents and railroad safety;

(4) provide 2 the information required by paragraphs (2) and (3)—

(A) for each Class I railroad individually; and

(B) in the aggregate for—

(i) Class II railroads;

(ii) Class III railroads;

(iii) hazardous materials shippers; and

(iv) individuals;


(5) identifies the number of locomotive engineer certification denial or revocation cases appealed to and the average length of time it took to be decided by—

(A) the Locomotive Engineer Review Board;

(B) an administrative hearing officer or administrative law judge; or

(C) the Administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration;


(6) provides an explanation regarding any changes in the Secretary's or the Federal Railroad Administration's enforcement programs or policies that may substantially affect the information reported; and

(7) includes any additional information that the Secretary determines is useful to improve the transparency of its enforcement program.

(Added Pub. L. 110–432, div. A, title III, §303(a), Oct. 16, 2008, 122 Stat. 4878; amended Pub. L. 114–94, div. A, title XI, §11316(d), Dec. 4, 2015, 129 Stat. 1676.)


Editorial Notes

Amendments

2015—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 114–94, §11316(d)(1), substituted "Web site" for "website" in introductory provisions.

Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 114–94, §11316(d)(2), substituted "accident and incident reporting" for "accident and incidence reporting".

Subsec. (a)(2)(G). Pub. L. 114–94, §11316(d)(3), inserted "and" at end.

Subsec. (a)(5)(B). Pub. L. 114–94, §11316(d)(4), substituted "administrative hearing officer or administrative law judge" for "Administrative Hearing Officer or Administrative Law Judge".


Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2015 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 114–94 effective Oct. 1, 2015, see section 1003 of Pub. L. 114–94, set out as a note under section 5313 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.

1 So in original. No subsec. (b) has been enacted.

2 So in original. Probably should be "provides".

About This Section

49 U.S.C. § 20120 is part of Title 49 of the United States Code. The United States Code is the official codification of federal statutes maintained by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel of the U.S. House of Representatives. Congress amends the Code through new public laws, which are eventually incorporated into the relevant title.

This section may be cited in legal writing as 49 U.S.C. § 20120. For the most current official text, including any recent amendments, use the official source links below. Do not rely on this page as the sole authority for legal citation or litigation.

How to Read This Statute

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Sources

Frequently Asked Questions About Us Code § 20120

What does United States Code § 20120 cover?

Section 20120 ("Enforcement report") is part of the United States Code, the codified statutory law of Us Code. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.

How do I cite Us Code § 20120?

A common citation format is "United States Code § 20120" (Us Code). Legal writing may require the code abbreviation, section number, and year or edition. Match the style required by your court, professor, or publisher.

Is this the official text of Us Code law?

No. This page is for research and education and may not include the most recent amendments. For official current law, check the Us Code official source linked on this page or consult a licensed Us Code attorney.

How does Us Code § 20120 apply to my situation?

Statutes are interpreted in context, and application depends on your specific facts. Only a licensed attorney in Us Code can advise on how this section applies to you. Contact your state or local bar association for a referral.

Sources & Verification

Not legal advice. Verify against the official source and consult a licensed attorney in Us Code.