49 CFR § 271.9 - Penalties and responsibility for compliance.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t49/s271.9"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "49 CFR § 271.9 - Penalties and responsibility for compliance."
title_number: 49
title_name: "Transportation"
section_number: "271.9"
section_name: "Penalties and responsibility for compliance."
chapter_name: "FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION"
part_number: "271"
part_name: "RISK REDUCTION PROGRAM"
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. 20103, 20106-20107, 20118-20119, 20156, 21301, 21304, 21311; 28 U.S.C. 2461 note; and 49 CFR 1.89."
regulatory_source: "85 FR 9314, Feb. 18, 2020, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "271"
---


# 271.9 Penalties and responsibility for compliance.

(a) Any person that 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, where a grossly negligent violation or a pattern of repeated violations has created an imminent hazard of death or injury to individuals, or has caused death or injury, a penalty not to exceed the aggravated maximum civil monetary penalty per violation may be assessed. *See* 49 CFR part 209, appendix A. Each day a violation continues shall constitute a separate offense. Any person that knowingly and willfully falsifies a record or report required by this part may be subject to criminal penalties under 49 U.S.C. 21311. See FRA's website at *https://railroads.dot.gov/*for a statement of agency civil penalty policy.

(b) Although the requirements of this part are stated in terms of the duty of a railroad, when any person, including a contractor or subcontractor to a railroad, performs any function covered by this part, that person (whether or not a railroad) shall perform that function in accordance with this part.

[85 FR 9314, Feb. 18, 2020, as amended at 90 FR 28200, July 1, 2025]