49 USC § 20132 - Visible markers for rear cars

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t49/s20132"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "49 USC § 20132 - Visible markers for rear cars"
title_number: 49
title_name: "TRANSPORTATION"
section_number: "20132"
section_name: "Visible markers for rear cars"
chapter_number: 201
chapter_name: "GENERAL"
subchapter_number: "II"
subchapter_name: "PARTICULAR ASPECTS OF SAFETY"
part_number: "A"
part_name: "SAFETY"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Pub. L. 103–272, § 1(e), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 873.)"
---


# § 20132. Visible markers for rear cars

**(a)** **General.—** The Secretary of Transportation shall prescribe regulations and issue orders that may be necessary to require that—

**(1)** the rear car of each passenger and commuter train has at least one highly visible marker that is lighted during darkness and when weather conditions restrict clear visibility; and

**(2)** the rear car of each freight train has highly visible markers during darkness and when weather conditions restrict clear visibility.

**(b)** **Preemption.—** Notwithstanding section 20106 of this title, subsection (a) of this section does not prohibit a State from continuing in force a law, regulation, or order in effect on July 8, 1976, related to lighted markers on the rear car of a freight train except to the extent it would cause the car to be in violation of this section.

---

**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 103–272, § 1(e), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 873.)

| RevisedSection | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 20132(a) | 45:431(g) (1st sentence cls. (2), (3)). | Oct. 16, 1970, Pub. L. 91–458, 84 Stat. 971, § 202(g) (1st sentence cls. (2), (3), last sentence); added July 8, 1976, Pub. L. 94–348, § 5(b), 90 Stat. 820. |
| 20132(b) | 45:431(g) (last sentence). |  |

In subsection (a), before clause (1), the words “within 180 days after ” are omitted as expired.