
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document affected by Public Law 106-414 Section 5(a)]
[CITE: 49USC30165]

 
                        TITLE 49--TRANSPORTATION
 
             SUBTITLE VI--MOTOR VEHICLE AND DRIVER PROGRAMS
 
                             PART A--GENERAL
 
                    CHAPTER 301--MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY
 
              SUBCHAPTER IV--ENFORCEMENT AND ADMINISTRATIVE
 
Sec. 30165. Civil penalty

    (a) Penalty.--A person that violates any of sections 30112, 30115, 
30117-30122, 30123(d),\1\ 30125(c), 30127, 30141-30147, or 30166 of this 
title or a regulation prescribed under any of those sections is liable 
to the United States Government for a civil penalty of not more than 
$1,000 for each violation. A separate violation occurs for each motor 
vehicle or item of motor vehicle equipment and for each failure or 
refusal to allow or perform an act required by any of those sections. 
The maximum penalty under this subsection for a related series of 
violations is $800,000.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \1\ See References in Text note below.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    (b) Compromise and Setoff.--(1) The Secretary of Transportation may 
compromise the amount of a civil penalty imposed under this section.
    (2) The Government may deduct the amount of a civil penalty imposed 
or compromised under this section from amounts it owes the person liable 
for the penalty.
    (c) Considerations.--In determining the amount of a civil penalty or 
compromise, the appropriateness of the penalty or compromise to the size 
of the business of the person charged and the gravity of the violation 
shall be considered.
    (d) Subpenas for Witnesses.--In a civil action brought under this 
section, a subpena for a witness may be served in any judicial district.

(Pub. L. 103-272, Sec. 1(e), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 968; Pub. L. 103-
429, Sec. 6(23), Oct. 31, 1994, 108 Stat. 4380.)

                                          Historical and Revision Notes
                                                 Pub. L. 103-272
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------
           Revised  Section                    Source (U.S. Code)              
 Source (Statutes at Large)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------
30165(a)..............................  15:1398(a).                      Sept. 
9, 1966, Pub. L. 89-563, Sec.
                                                                          109(a
), 80 Stat. 723; Oct. 27, 1974,
                                                                          Pub. 
L. 93-492, Sec.  103(b), 88 Stat.
                                                                          1478.
                                        15:1424(b) (related to civil     Sept. 
9, 1966, Pub. L. 89-563, Secs.
                                         penalty).                        109(b
), 110(d) (related to Sec.  109),
                                                                          204(b
) (related to civil penalty), 80
                                                                          Stat.
 723, 724, 729.
30165(b)..............................  15:1398(b) (1st, last
                                         sentences).
30165(c)..............................  15:1398(b) (2d sentence).
30165(d)..............................  15:1399(d) (related to
                                         15:1398).
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------

    In subsection (a), the text of 15:1424(b) (related to civil penalty) 
is omitted because of the restatement. The words ``is liable to the 
United States Government for'' are substituted for ``shall be subject 
to'' for consistency. The words ``A separate violation occurs for'' are 
substituted for ``Such violation of a provision of section 1397 of this 
title, or regulations issued thereunder, shall constitute a separate 
violation with respect to'' to eliminate unnecessary words.
    In subsection (b)(2), the words ``amount of a civil penalty imposed 
or compromised'' are substituted for ``amount of such penalty, when 
finally determined, or the amount agreed upon in compromise'' to 
eliminate unnecessary words.
    In subsection (d), the words ``who are required to attend a United 
States district court'' are omitted as surplus. The words ``be served 
in'' are substituted for ``run into'' for clarity.


                             Pub. L. 103-429

    This amends 49:30141(c)(4)(A) and 30165(a) to correct erroneous 
cross-references.

                       References in Text

    Section 30123(d) of this title, referred to in subsec. (a), was 
redesignated section 30123(a) of this title by Pub. L. 105-178, title 
VII, Sec. 7106(b), June 9, 1998, 112 Stat. 467.


                               Amendments

    1994--Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 103-429 substituted ``any of sections 
30112'' for ``section 30112'' and inserted ``any of'' before ``those 
sections'' in two places.


                    Effective Date of 1994 Amendment

    Amendment 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.

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in section 30163 of this title.
