Federal · Title 49 — Transportation

49 U.S.C. § 11904: Unlawful disclosure of information

Misdemeanor

What this law says, in plain English

Federal law prohibits rail carriers and employees from unlawfully disclosing confidential information about shipments, routing, or contract contents to competitors or unauthorized parties, with limited exceptions for legal process and government officials.

Read the full statutory text
rail carrier providing transportation subject to the jurisdiction of the Board under this part, or an officer, agent, or employee of that rail carrier, or another person authorized to receive information from that rail carrier, that knowingly discloses to another person, except the shipper or consignee; or person who solicits or knowingly receives, The information referred to in subsection (a) is information about the nature, kind, quantity, destination, consignee, or routing of property tendered or delivered to that rail carrier for transportation provided under this part, or information about the contents of a contract authorized under section 10709 of this title , that may be used to the detriment of the shipper or consignee or may disclose improperly, to a competitor, the business transactions of the shipper or consignee. in response to legal process issued under authority of a court of the United States or a State; to an officer, employee, or agent of the United States Government, a State, or a territory or possession of the United States; or to another rail carrier or its agent to adjust mutual traffic accounts in the ordinary course of business. An employee of the Board delegated to make an inspection or examination under section 11144 of this title who knowingly discloses information acquired during that inspection or examination, except as directed by the Board, a court, or a judge of that court, shall be fined not more than $500, imprisoned for not more than 6 months, or both. A person that knowingly discloses confidential data made available to such person under section 11163 of this title by a rail carrier providing transportation subject to the jurisdiction of the Board under this part shall be fined not more than $50,000.

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This page is legal information, not legal advice. Code text is sourced from official publications and may lag amendments — always confirm at the official source linked above. Plain-English summaries and relationship data are AI-derived and reviewed on an ongoing basis; verify with a licensed attorney before acting.