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 Code of Federal Regulations (Last Updated: November 8, 2024)
 Title 49 - Transportation
 Subtitle B - Other Regulations Relating to Transportation
 Chapter II - Federal Railroad Administration, Department of Transportation
 Part 231 - Railroad Safety Appliance Standards

  Appendix A to Part 231 - Schedule of Civil Penalties 1

Latest version.

  • Appendix A to Part 231 - Schedule of Civil Penalties1

    FRA safety appliance defect code section2 Violation Willful violation
    110.A1 Hand Brake or Hand Brake Part Missing $5,000 $7,500
    110.A2 Hand Brake or Hand Brake Part Broken 5,000 7,500
    110.A3 Hand Brake or Hand Brake Part Loose or Worn 2,500 5,000
    110.B1 Hand Brake Inoperative 5,000 7,500
    110.B2 Hand Brake Inefficient 2,500 5,000
    110.B3 Hand Brake Improperly Applied 2,500 5,000
    110.B4 Hand Brake Incorrectly located 2,500 5,000
    110.B5 Hand Brake Shaft Welded or Wrong Dimension 2,500 5,000
    110.B6 Hand Brake Shaft Not Retained in Operating Position 2,500 5,000
    110.B8 Hand Brake or Hand Brake Parts Wrong Design 2,500 5,000
    114.B2 Hand Brake Wheel or Lever Has Insufficient Clearance Around Rim or Handle 2,500 5,000
    114.B3 Hand Brake Wheel/Lever Clearance Insufficient to Vertical Plane Through Inside Face of Knuckle 2,500 5,000
    120.A1 Brake Step Missing Except by Design 5,000 7,500
    120.A2 Brake Step or Brace Broken or Decayed 2,500 5,000
    120.A3 Brake Step or Brace Loose 2,500 5,000
    120.B1 Brake Step or Brace Bent 2,500 5,000
    120.B2 Brake Step or Wrong Dimensions 2,500 5,000
    120.C1 Brake Step Improperly Applied 2,500 5,000
    120.C2 Brake Step Improperly Located 2,500 5,000
    120.C3 Brake Step With Less Than 4″ Clearance to Vertical Plane Through Inside Face of Knuckle 2,500 5,000
    120.C4 Brake Step Obstructed or Otherwise Unsafe 2,500 5,000
    124.A1 Running Board Missing or Part Missing Except By Design 5,000 7,500
    124.A2 Running Board Broken or Decayed 5,000 7,500
    124.A3 Running Board Loose Presents a Tripping Hazard or Other Unsafe Condition 2,500 5,000
    124.A4 Running Board Wrong Material 2,500 5,000
    124.B1 Running Board Bent to the Extent that It is Unsafe 2,500 5,000
    124.B2 Running Board Wrong Dimensions 2,500 5,000
    124.B3 Running Board Wrong Location 2,500 5,000
    124.C1 Running Board Improperly Applied 2,500 5,000
    124.C2 Running Board Obstructed 2,500 5,000
    126.A1 End Platform Missing or Part Except By Design 5,000 7,500
    126.A2 End Platform Broken or Decayed 5,000 7,500
    126.A3 End Platform Loose 2,500 5,000
    126.B1 End Platform or Brace Bent 2,500 5,000
    126.B2 End Platform Wrong Dimensions 2,500 5,000
    126.C1 End Platform Improperly Applied 2,500 5,000
    126.C2 End Platform With Less Than Required Clearance to Vertical Plane Through Inside Knuckle 2,500 5,000
    126.C3 End Platform Improperly Located 2,500 5,000
    126.C4 End Platform Obstructed 5,000 7,500
    128.A1 Platform or Switching Step Missing 5,000 7,500
    128.A2 Platform or Switching Step Broken or Decayed 5,000 7,500
    128.A3 Platform or Switching Step Loose 2,500 5,000
    128.B1 Platform or Switching Step Bent 2,500 5,000
    128.B2 Platform or Switching Step Does Not Meet the Required Location or Dimensions 2,500 5,000
    128.C1 Platform or Switching Step Improperly Applied or Repaired 2,500 5,000
    128.C2 Platform or Switching Step Obstructed 2,500 5,000
    128.D1 Switching Step Back Stop or Kick Plate Missing 2,500 5,000
    128.D2 Switching Step Not Illuminated When Required 2,500 5,000
    128.D3 Non-Illuminated Step Not Painted Contrasting Color 1,000 2,000
    130.A1 Sill Step or Additional Tread, Missing 5,000 7,500
    130.A2 Sill Step or Additional Tread, Broken 5,000 7,500
    130.A3 Sill Step or Additional Tread, Loose 2,500 5,000
    130.B1 Sill Step or Additional Tread, Bent 2,500 5,000
    130.B2 Sill Step or Additional Tread, Having Wrong Dimensions or Improperly Located 2,500 5,000
    130.B3 Sill Step Improperly Applied 2,500 5,000
    132.A1 Side Missing Step 5,000 7,500
    132.A2 Side Door Step Broken 5,000 7,500
    132.A3 Side Door Step Loose 2,500 5,000
    132.B1 Side Door Step Bent 2,500 5,000
    132.B2 Side Door Step Having Wrong Dimensions 2,500 5,000
    134.A1 Ladder Missing 5,000 7,500
    134.A2 Ladder Broken 5,000 7,500
    134.A3 Ladder Loose 2,500 5,000
    134.B1 Ladder Bent 2,500 5,000
    134.B2 Ladder Having Wrong Dimensions 2,500 5,000
    134.C1 Ladder Improperly Applied 2,500 5,000
    134.C2 Ladder Having Insufficient Clearance or Improperly Located 2,500 5,000
    134.C3 Ladder Wrong Design 2,500 5,000
    134.C4 Ladder Wrong Material 2,500 5,000
    134.D1 End Clearance Insufficient 2,500 5,000
    136.A1 Ladder Tread or Handholds Missing 5,000 7,500
    136.A2 Ladder Tread or Handhold Broken 5,000 7,500
    136.A3 Ladder Tread or Handhold Loose Except By Design 2,500 5,000
    136.B1 Ladder Tread or Handhold Bent to The Extent That It May Be Unsafe 2,500 5,000
    136.B2 Ladder Tread or Handhold Wrong Dimensions 2,500 5,000
    136.C1 Ladder Tread or Handhold Improperly Applied 2,500 5,000
    136.C2 Ladder Tread or Handhold Having Wrong Clearance 2,500 5,000
    136.C3 Ladder or Handhold Improperly Located 2,500 5,000
    136.C4 Ladder Tread or Handhold Obstructed 2,500 5,000
    136.C5 Ladder Tread Without Footguards 2,500 5,000
    138.A1 Hand or Safety Railing Missing 5,000 7,500
    138.A2 Hand or Safety Railing Broken 5,000 7,500
    138.A3 Hand or Safety Railing Loose Except by Design 2,500 5,000
    138.B1 Hand or Safety Railing Bent 2,500 5,000
    138.B2 Hand or Safety Railing Wrong Dimensions 2,500 5,000
    138.C1 Hand or Safety Railing Improperly Applied 2,500 5,000
    138.C2 Hand or Safety Railing Having Less Than the Required Clearance 2,500 5,000
    138.C3 Hand or Safety Railing Improperly Located 2,500 5,000
    140.A1 Uncoupling Lever Missing 2,500 5,000
    140.A2 Uncoupling Lever Broken or Disconnected 2,500 5,000
    140.B1 Uncoupling Lever Bent Will not Safely and Reasonably Function As Intended 2,500 5,000
    140.C1 Uncoupling Lever Bracket Bent Lever Will Not Function Properly 2,500 5,000
    140.C2 Uncoupling Lever Bracket Broken or Missing 2,500 5,000
    140.D1 Uncoupling Lever Wrong Dimension 2,500 5,000
    140.D2 Uncoupling Lever With Improper Handle Clearance 2,500 5,000
    144.A1 Coupler Missing 5,000 7,500
    144.B1 Coupler Height Incorrect 2,500 5,000
    144.C1 Coupler Inoperative 2,500 5,000
    145.A1 Kick Plates Missing 2,500 5,000
    145.A2 Kick Plates Broken 2,500 5,000
    145.B1 Kick Plates Wrong Dimensions 2,500 5,000
    145.B2 Kick Plates Improper Clearance 2,500 5,000
    145.B3 Kick Plates Insecure Or Improperly Applied 2,500 5,000
    146.A Notice or Stencil not Posted on Cabooses with Running Boards Removed 1,000 2,000
    146.B Safe Means not Provided to Clean or Maintain Windows of Caboose 1,000 2,000
    231.31 Drawbars, standard height 2,500 5,000

    1 A penalty may be assessed against an individual only for a willful violation. The Administrator reserves the right to assess a penalty of up to the statutory maximum amount for any violation where circumstances warrant. See 49 CFR part 209, appendix A.

    2 This schedule uses section numbers from FRA's Safety Appliance Defect Code, a restatement of the CFR text in a reorganized format. For convenience, and as an exception to FRA's general policy, penalty citations will cite the defect code rather than the CFR. FRA reserves the right, should litigation become necessary, to substitute in its complaint the CFR and/or statutory citation in place of the defect code section cited in the penalty demand letter.

    [53 FR 52933, Dec. 29, 1988, as amended at 63 FR 11623, Mar. 10, 1998; 66 FR 4193, Jan. 17, 2001; 73 FR 79703, Dec. 30, 2008; 77 FR 24421, Apr. 24, 2012; 77 FR 26704, May 7, 2012; 81 FR 43111, July 1, 2016; 83 FR 60748, Nov. 27, 2018]