
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
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[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 23, 2000 and December 4, 2001]
[CITE: 49USC14701]

 
                        TITLE 49--TRANSPORTATION
 
                 SUBTITLE IV--INTERSTATE TRANSPORTATION
 
 PART B--MOTOR CARRIERS, WATER CARRIERS, BROKERS, AND FREIGHT FORWARDERS
 
       CHAPTER 147--ENFORCEMENT; INVESTIGATIONS; RIGHTS; REMEDIES
 
Sec. 14701. General authority

    (a) Investigations.--The Secretary or the Board, as applicable, may 
begin an investigation under this part on the Secretary's or the Board's 
own initiative or on complaint. If the Secretary or Board, as 
applicable, finds that a carrier or broker is violating this part, the 
Secretary or Board, as applicable, shall take appropriate action to 
compel compliance with this part. If the Secretary finds that a foreign 
motor carrier or foreign motor private carrier is violating chapter 139, 
the Secretary shall take appropriate action to compel compliance with 
that chapter. The Secretary or Board, as applicable, may take action 
under this subsection only after giving the carrier or broker notice of 
the investigation and an opportunity for a proceeding.
    (b) Complaints.--A person, including a governmental authority, may 
file with the Secretary or Board, as applicable, a complaint about a 
violation of this part by a carrier providing, or broker for, 
transportation or service subject to jurisdiction under this part or a 
foreign motor carrier or foreign motor private carrier providing 
transportation registered under section 13902 of this title. The 
complaint must state the facts that are the subject of the violation. 
The Secretary or Board, as applicable, may dismiss a complaint that it 
determines does not state reasonable grounds for investigation and 
action.
    (c) Deadline.--A formal investigative proceeding begun by the 
Secretary or Board under subsection (a) of this section is dismissed 
automatically unless it is concluded with administrative finality by the 
end of the 3d year after the date on which it was begun.

(Added Pub. L. 104-88, title I, Sec. 103, Dec. 29, 1995, 109 Stat. 904.)


                            Prior Provisions

    Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in 
section 11701 of this title prior to the general amendment of this 
subtitle by Pub. L. 104-88, Sec. 102(a).


                             Effective Date

    Chapter effective Jan. 1, 1996, except as otherwise provided in Pub. 
L. 104-88, see section 2 of Pub. L. 104-88, set out as a note under 
section 701 of this title.

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in sections 13905, 14704 of this title.
