
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 23, 2000 and December 4, 2001]
[CITE: 49USC523]

 
                        TITLE 49--TRANSPORTATION
 
                SUBTITLE I--DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
 
                      CHAPTER 5--SPECIAL AUTHORITY
 
                        SUBCHAPTER II--PENALTIES
 
Sec. 523. Unlawful disclosure of information

    (a) A motor carrier, or an officer, receiver, trustee, lessee, or 
employee of that carrier, or another person authorized by that carrier 
to receive information from that carrier, may not knowingly disclose to 
another person (except the shipper or consignee), and another person may 
not solicit, or knowingly receive, information about the nature, kind, 
quantity, destination, consignee, or routing of property tendered or 
delivered to that carrier without the consent of the shipper or 
consignee if that information may be used to the detriment of the 
shipper or consignee or may disclose improperly to a competitor the 
business transactions of the shipper or consignee.
    (b) This chapter does not prevent a motor carrier, motor carrier of 
migrant workers, or motor private carrier from giving information--
        (1) in response to legal process issued under authority of a 
    court of the United States or a State;
        (2) to an officer, employee, or agent of the United States 
    Government, a State, or a territory or possession of the United 
    States; and
        (3) to another motor carrier, motor carrier of migrant workers, 
    or motor private carrier, or its agent, to adjust mutual traffic 
    accounts in the ordinary course of business.

    (c) An employee of the Secretary of Transportation delegated to make 
an inspection under section 504 of this title who knowingly discloses 
information acquired during that inspection, except as directed by the 
Secretary, a court, or a judge of that court, shall be fined not more 
than $500, imprisoned for not more than 6 months, or both.

(Pub. L. 97-449, Jan. 12, 1983, 96 Stat. 2436.)

                                          Historical and Revision Notes
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------
           Revised  Section                    Source (U.S. Code)              
 Source (Statutes at Large)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------
523...................................  49:1655(f)(2).                   Oct. 1
5, 1966, Pub. L. 89-670, Sec.
                                                                          6(f)(
2), 80 Stat. 940.
523(b)................................  49:304(a)(3) (last sentence)     Feb. 4
, 1887, ch. 104, 24 Stat. 379,
                                         (related to ``Sec. 322(f)'').    Sec. 
 204(a)(3) (last sentence)
                                                                          (rela
ted to ``Sec. 222(d), (f)'');
                                                                          added
 Aug. 9, 1935, ch. 498, 49 Stat.
                                                                          546.
                                        49:304(a)(3a) (last sentence)    Feb. 4
, 1887, ch. 104, 24 Stat. 379,
                                         (related to ``Sec. 322(f)'').    Sec. 
 204(a)(3a) (last sentence)
                                                                          (rela
ted to ``Sec. 222(d), (f)'');
                                                                          added
 Aug. 3, 1956, ch. 905, Sec.  2,
                                                                          70 St
at. 958.
523(c)................................  49:304(a)(3) (last sentence)
                                         (related to ``Sec. 322(d)'').
                                        49:304(a)(3a) (last sentence)
                                         (related to ``Sec. 322(d)'').
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------

    The section is included because 49:1655(f)(2) gave the same 
administrative powers exercised by the Interstate Commerce Commission 
under certain sections of title 49 to the Secretary of Transportation to 
carry out duties transferred to the Secretary by 49:1655(e). See the 
revision notes for section 501 of the revised title for an explanation 
of the transfer under 49:1655(f)(2). The powers of the Commission have 
been codified in subtitle IV of the revised title. The comparable 
provisions of title 49 that are represented by the section may be found 
as follows:

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------
                                                                               
                        Revised
                Section 523                                       49 U.S. Code 
                        Section
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------
(a)........................................  322(e).                           
                            11910
(b)........................................  322(f).                           
                            11910
(c)........................................  20(7)(f).                         
                            11910
                                             322(d).                           
                            11910
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------

    See the revision notes for the revised section for an explanation of 
changes made in the text. Changes not accounted for in those revision 
notes are as follows:
    Subsection (a) does not apply to motor carriers of migrant workers 
and motor private carriers because 49:322(e) only applies to motor 
carriers and 49:304(a)(3) and (3a) do not apply 49:322(e) to motor 
carriers of migrant workers and motor private carriers. The words 
``engaged in interstate or foreign commerce'' are omitted as unnecessary 
because of the restatement of the chapter.
    In subsections (b) and (c), the text of 49:304(a)(3) (last sentence 
1st-7th words) and (3a) (last sentence 1st-5th words) is omitted as 
executed.
