23 USC § 315 - Rules, regulations, and recommendations

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t23/s315"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "23 USC § 315 - Rules, regulations, and recommendations"
title_number: 23
title_name: "HIGHWAYS"
section_number: "315"
section_name: "Rules, regulations, and recommendations"
chapter_number: 3
chapter_name: "GENERAL PROVISIONS"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Pub. L. 85–767, Aug. 27, 1958, 72 Stat. 915; Pub. L. 100–17, title I, § 133(b)(18), Apr. 2, 1987, 101 Stat. 172; Pub. L. 105–178, title I, § 1212(a)(2)(A)(ii), June 9, 1998, 112 Stat. 193; Pub. L. 112–141, div. A, title I, § 1119(c)(3), July 6, 2012, 126 Stat. 492.)"
---


# § 315. Rules, regulations, and recommendations

Except as provided in sections 202(a)(5), 203(a)(3), and 205(a) of this title, the Secretary is authorized to prescribe and promulgate all needful rules and regulations for the carrying out of the provisions of this title. The Secretary may make such recommendations to the Congress and State transportation departments as he deems necessary for preserving and protecting the highways and insuring the safety of traffic thereon.

---

**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 85–767, Aug. 27, 1958, 72 Stat. 915; Pub. L. 100–17, title I, § 133(b)(18), Apr. 2, 1987, 101 Stat. 172; Pub. L. 105–178, title I, § 1212(a)(2)(A)(ii), June 9, 1998, 112 Stat. 193; Pub. L. 112–141, div. A, title I, § 1119(c)(3), July 6, 2012, 126 Stat. 492.)

## Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2012— substituted “202(a)(5), 203(a)(3),” for “204(f)”.

1998— substituted “State transportation departments” for “State highway departments”.

1987— which directed that this section be amended by substituting “204(f) and 205(a)” for “204(d), 205(a), 207(b), and 208(c)” was executed by substituting “204(f) and 205(a)” for “204(d), 205(a), 206(b), 207(b), and 208(c)”, to reflect the probable intent of Congress.

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 2012 Amendment

Amendment by  effective , see , set out as an Effective and Termination Dates of 2012 Amendment note under .