US Code
SUBCHAPTER II— PARTICULAR ASPECTS OF SAFETY
§ 20138. Tampering with safety and operational monitoring devices

(a) General.—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) Penalties.—(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.

Structure US Code

US Code

Title 49— TRANSPORTATION

SUBTITLE V— RAIL PROGRAMS

PART A— SAFETY

CHAPTER 201— GENERAL

SUBCHAPTER II— PARTICULAR ASPECTS OF SAFETY

§ 20131. Restricted access to rolling equipment

§ 20132. Visible markers for rear cars

§ 20133. Passenger cars

§ 20134. Grade crossings and railroad rights of way

§ 20135. Licensing or certification of locomotive operators

§ 20136. Automatic train control and related systems

§ 20137. Event recorders

§ 20138. Tampering with safety and operational monitoring devices

§ 20139. Maintenance-of-way operations on railroad bridges

§ 20140. Alcohol and controlled substances testing

§ 20141. Power brake safety

§ 20142. Track safety

§ 20143. Locomotive visibility

§ 20144. Blue signal protection for on-track vehicles

§ 20145. Report on bridge displacement detection systems

§ 20146. Institute for Railroad Safety

§ 20147. Warning of civil liability

§ 20148. Railroad car visibility

§ 20149. Coordination with the Department of Labor

§ 20150. Positive train control system progress report

§ 20151. Railroad trespassing, vandalism, and highway-rail grade crossing warning sign violation prevention strategy

§ 20152. Notification of grade crossing problems

§ 20153. Audible warnings at highway-rail grade crossings

[§ 20154. Repealed. , , ]

§ 20155. Tank cars

§ 20156. Railroad safety risk reduction program

§ 20157. Implementation of positive train control systems

§ 20158. Railroad safety technology grants

§ 20159. Roadway user sight distance at highway-rail grade crossings

§ 20160. National crossing inventory

§ 20161. Fostering introduction of new technology to improve safety at highway-rail grade crossings

§ 20162. Minimum training standards and plans

§ 20163. Certification of train conductors

§ 20164. Development and use of rail safety technology

§ 20165. Limitations on non-Federal alcohol and drug testing

§ 20166. Emergency escape breathing apparatus

§ 20167. Reports on highway-rail grade crossing safety

§ 20168. Installation of audio and image recording devices

§ 20169. Speed limit action plans

§ 20170. Pre-revenue service safety validation plan

§ 20171. Requirements for railroad freight cars placed into service in the United States