US Code

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

49 U.S.C. § 14710

Enforcement of Federal laws and regulations with respect to transportation of household goods

(a)

Enforcement by States .—

Notwithstanding any other provision of this title, a State authority may enforce the consumer protection provisions of this title that apply to individual shippers, as determined by the Secretary, and are related to the delivery and transportation of household goods in interstate commerce. Any fine or penalty imposed on a carrier in a proceeding under this subsection shall be paid, notwithstanding any other provision of law, to and retained by the State.
(b)

Notice .—

The State shall serve written notice to the Secretary or the Board, as the case may be, of any civil action under subsection (a) prior to initiating such civil action. The notice shall include a copy of the complaint to be filed to initiate such civil action, except that if it is not feasible for the State to provide such prior notice, the State shall provide the notice immediately upon instituting such civil action.
(c)

Enforcement Assistance Outreach Plan .—

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration shall implement an outreach plan to enhance the coordination and effective enforcement of Federal laws and regulations with respect to transportation of household goods between and among Federal and State law enforcement and consumer protection authorities. The outreach shall include, as appropriate, local law enforcement and consumer protection authorities.
(d)

State Authority Defined .—

In this section, the term “State authority” means an agency of a State that has authority under the laws of the State to regulate the intrastate movement of household goods.

Pub. L. 109–59, title IV, § 4206(b)(1)119 Stat. 1754Pub. L. 109–115, div. A, title I, § 173(a)119 Stat. 2426(Added , , ; amended , (b), , .)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Pub. L. 109–115, § 173(a)2005—Subsec. (a). , (e), temporarily substituted “a State authority other than the attorney general of the state may, as parens patriae,” for “a State authority may” in first sentence and inserted second sentence which read as follows: “Any civil action for injunctive relief to enjoin such delivery or transportation or to compel a person to pay a fine or penalty assessed under chapter 149 shall be brought in an appropriate district court of the United States.” See Termination Date of 2005 Amendment note below.

Pub. L. 109–115, § 173(b)Exercise of Enforcement AuthoritySubsec. (b). , (e), temporarily amended subsec. (b) to read as follows: “.—The authority of this section shall be exercised subject to the requirements of sections 14711(b)–(f) of this title.” See Termination Date of 2005 Amendment note below.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Termination Date of 2005 Amendment

Pub. L. 109–115, div. A, title I, § 173(e)119 Stat. 2426

section 14711 of this title“The amendments made by this section [amending this section and ] shall cease to be in effect after .”
, , , provided that:

Deemed References to Chapters 509 and 511 of Title 51

section 4(d)(8) of Pub. L. 111–314section 101 of this titleGeneral references to “this title” deemed to refer also to chapters 509 and 511 of Title 51, National and Commercial Space Programs, see , set out as a note under .

Working Group for Development of Practices and Procedures To Enhance Federal-State Relations

Pub. L. 109–59, title IV, § 4213119 Stat. 1759Pub. L. 111–147, title IV, § 422(j)124 Stat. 87Pub. L. 111–322, title II, § 2202(j)124 Stat. 3525Pub. L. 112–5, title II, § 202(j)125 Stat. 17Pub. L. 112–30, title I, § 122(i)125 Stat. 349Pub. L. 112–102, title II, § 202(i)126 Stat. 274Pub. L. 112–140, title II, § 202(i)126 Stat. 395Pub. L. 112–141, div. G, title II, § 112002(f)126 Stat. 983, , , as amended by , , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; , , , directed the Secretary of Transportation to establish a working group to enhance the Federal-State partnership with respect to interstate transportation of household goods to remain in effect until .