Regulations last checked for updates: Feb 06, 2026

Title 49 - Transportation last revised: Jan 27, 2026
§ 217.5 - Penalty.

(a) Any person (an entity of any type covered under 49 U.S.C. 21301,including; a manager, supervisor, official, or other employee or agent of a railroad; any owner, manufacturer, lessor, or lessee of railroad equipment, track, or facilities; any independent contractor providing goods or services to a railroad; and any employee of such owner, manufacturer, lessor, lessee, or independent contractor) who violates any requirement of this part or causes the violation of any such requirement is subject to a civil penalty of at least the minimum civil monetary penalty and not more than the ordinary maximum civil monetary penalty per violation, except that: Penalties may be assessed against individuals only for willful violations, and, a penalty not to exceed the aggravated maximum civil monetary penalty per violation may be assessed, where:

(1) A grossly negligent violation, or a pattern of repeated violations, has created an imminent hazard of death or injury to persons; or

(2) A death or injury has occurred. See 49 CFR part 209, appendix A.

(b) Each day a violation continues shall constitute a separate offense. See FRA's website at https://railroads.dot.gov/ for a statement of agency civil penalty policy.

[53 FR 28599, July 28, 1988] Editorial Note:For Federal Register citations affecting § 217.5, see the List of CFR Sections Affected, which appears in the Finding Aids section of the printed volume and at www.govinfo.gov.
authority: 49 U.S.C. 20103,20107,20168,28.S.C. 2461, note; and 49 CFR 1.89
source: 39 FR 41176, Nov. 25, 1974, unless otherwise noted.
cite as: 49 CFR 217.5