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2026-07-06 10:51:44 -04:00

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LegalText 49 U.S.C. § 14915 Penalties for failure to give up possession of household goods us united_states_code code_section 49 TRANSPORTATION 149 CIVIL AND CRIMINAL PENALTIES 14915 49 U.S.C. § 14915 current 119-100 2026-06-26 official https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc49@119-100.zip /us/usc/t49/s14915 data/legal/raw/us/code/title-49/usc49.xml e547d4cd1d658670ad096f7fa808603bcf7a357833eb41cb70a5adc0bf29d811 0786acdd244d8f42c5a8e8ed1ec2a8dcb47dd0e02a286752710a20745702a4fb 841fb7430c4d19cbececa0f8c68c347008bc9d1f7276121d718b1cea13dbbeef 2026-07-04 official
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49 U.S.C. § 14915 - Penalties for failure to give up possession of household goods

Text

(a) Civil Penalty.— (1) In general.— Whoever is found holding a household goods shipment hostage is liable to the United States for a civil penalty of not less than $10,000 for each violation. The United States may assign all or a portion of the civil penalty to an aggrieved shipper. The Secretary of Transportation shall establish criteria upon which such assignments shall be made. The Secretary may order, after notice and an opportunity for a proceeding, that a person found holding a household goods shipment hostage return the goods to an aggrieved shipper.

(2) Each day, a separate violation.— Each day a carrier is found to have failed to give up possession of household goods may constitute a separate violation.

(3) Suspension.— If the person found holding a shipment hostage is a carrier or broker, the Secretary may suspend for a period of not less than 12 months nor more than 36 months the registration of such carrier or broker under chapter 139. The force and effect of such suspension of a carrier or broker shall extend to and include any carrier or broker having the same ownership or operational control as the suspended carrier or broker.

(4) Settlement authority.— Nothing in this section shall be construed as prohibiting the Secretary from accepting partial payment of a civil penalty as part of a settlement agreement in the public interest, or from holding imposition of any part of a civil penalty in abeyance.

(b) Criminal Penalty.— Whoever has been convicted of having failed to give up possession of household goods shall be fined under title 18 or imprisoned for not more than 2 years, or both.

(c) Failure To Give Up Possession of Household Goods Defined.— For purposes of this section, the term “failed to give up possession of household goods” means the knowing and willful failure, in violation of a contract, to deliver to, or unload at, the destination of a shipment of household goods that is subject to jurisdiction under subchapter I or III of chapter 135 of this title, for which charges have been estimated by the motor carrier providing transportation of such goods, and for which the shipper has tendered a payment described in clause (i), (ii), or (iii) of section 13707(b)(3)(A).

(Added Pub. L. 10959, title IV, § 4210(a), Aug. 10, 2005, 119 Stat. 1758; amended Pub. L. 112141, div. C, title II, §§ 32922(b), 32923(b), July 6, 2012, 126 Stat. 828.)

Notes

Editorial Notes

Amendments2012—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 112141, § 32922(b), inserted at end “The United States may assign all or a portion of the civil penalty to an aggrieved shipper. The Secretary of Transportation shall establish criteria upon which such assignments shall be made. The Secretary may order, after notice and an opportunity for a proceeding, that a person found holding a household goods shipment hostage return the goods to an aggrieved shipper.” Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 112141, § 32923(b), added par. (4).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2012 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 112141 effective Oct. 1, 2012, see section 3(a) of Pub. L. 112141, set out as an Effective and Termination Dates of 2012 Amendment note under section 101 of Title 23, Highways.