US Code

Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

49 U.S.C. § 11904

Unlawful disclosure of information

(a)
A—
(1)
rail carrier providing transportation subject to the jurisdiction of the Board under this part, or an officer, agent, or employee of that rail carrier, or another person authorized to receive information from that rail carrier, that knowingly discloses to another person, except the shipper or consignee; or
(2)
person who solicits or knowingly receives,
information described in subsection (b) without the consent of the shipper or consignee shall be fined not more than $1,000.
(b)
section 10709 of this title The information referred to in subsection (a) is information about the nature, kind, quantity, destination, consignee, or routing of property tendered or delivered to that rail carrier for transportation provided under this part, or information about the contents of a contract authorized under , that 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.
(c)
This part does not prevent a rail carrier providing transportation subject to the jurisdiction of the Board under this part 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; or
(3)
to another rail carrier or its agent to adjust mutual traffic accounts in the ordinary course of business.
(d)
section 11144 of this title An employee of the Board delegated to make an inspection or examination under who knowingly discloses information acquired during that inspection or examination, except as directed by the Board, a court, or a judge of that court, shall be fined not more than $500, imprisoned for not more than 6 months, or both.
(e)
section 11163 of this title A person that knowingly discloses confidential data made available to such person under by a rail carrier providing transportation subject to the jurisdiction of the Board under this part shall be fined not more than $50,000.

Pub. L. 104–88, title I, § 102(a)109 Stat. 851Pub. L. 105–102, § 2(6)111 Stat. 2204(Added , , ; amended , , .)

Historical and Revision Notes

Pub. L. 105–102

This amends 49:11904(a)(2) to correct a grammatical error.

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

section 11910 of this titlePub. L. 104–88, § 102(a)Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in prior to the general amendment of this subtitle by .

Pub. L. 95–47392 Stat. 1457Pub. L. 99–521, § 13(a)100 Stat. 2998Pub. L. 104–88, § 102(a)section 14904 of this titleA prior section 11904, , , ; , , , related to additional rate and discrimination violations, prior to the general amendment of this subtitle by . See .

Amendments

Pub. L. 105–1021997—Subsec. (a)(2). struck out “a” before “person”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Pub. L. 104–88section 2 of Pub. L. 104–88section 1301 of this titleSection effective , except as otherwise provided in , see , set out as a note under .