49 CFR § 220.47 - Emergency radio transmissions.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t49/s220.47"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "49 CFR § 220.47 - Emergency radio transmissions."
title_number: 49
title_name: "Transportation"
section_number: "220.47"
section_name: "Emergency radio transmissions."
chapter_name: "FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION"
part_number: "220"
part_name: "RAILROAD COMMUNICATIONS"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-03-24"
last_updated: "2026-03-24"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "49 U.S.C. 20102-20103, 20103 note, 20107, 21301-21302, 20701-20703, 21304, 21311; 28 U.S.C. 2461 note; and 49 CFR 1.89."
regulatory_source: "63 FR 47195, Sept. 4, 1998, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "220"
---


# 220.47 Emergency radio transmissions.

An initial emergency radio transmission shall be preceded by the word “emergency,” repeated three times. An emergency transmission shall have priority over all other transmissions and the frequency or channel shall be kept clear of non-emergency traffic for the duration of the emergency communication.