Regulations last checked for updates: Oct 18, 2024

Title 49 - Transportation last revised: Oct 15, 2024
§ 1570.301 - Fraudulent use or manufacture; responsibilities of persons.

(a) No person may use or attempt to use a credential, security threat assessment, access control medium, or identification medium issued or conducted under this subchapter that was issued or conducted for another person.

(b) No person may make, produce, use or attempt to use a false or fraudulently created access control medium, identification medium or security threat assessment issued or conducted under this subchapter.

(c) No person may tamper or interfere with, compromise, modify, attempt to circumvent, or circumvent TWIC access control procedures.

(d) No person may cause or attempt to cause another person to violate paragraphs (a) through (c) of this section.

§ 1570.303 - Inspection of credential.

(a) Each person who has been issued or possesses a TWIC must present the TWIC for inspection upon a request from TSA, the Coast Guard, or other authorized DHS representative; an authorized representative of the National Transportation Safety Board; or a Federal, State, or local law enforcement officer.

(b) Each person who has been issued or who possesses a TWIC must allow his or her TWIC to be read by a reader and must submit his or her reference biometric, such as a fingerprint, and any other required information, such as a PIN, to the reader, upon a request from TSA, the Coast Guard, other authorized DHS representative; or a Federal, State, or local law enforcement officer.

§ 1570.305 - False statements regarding security background checks by public transportation agency or railroad carrier.

(a) Scope. This section implements sections 1414(e) (6 U.S.C. 1143) and 1522(e) (6 U.S.C. 1170) of the “Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007,” Public Law 110-53 (121 Stat. 266, Aug. 3, 2007).

(b) Definitions. In addition to the terms in §§ 1500.3, 1500.5, and 1503.202 of subchapter A and § 1570.3 of subchapter D of this chapter, the following term applies to this part:

Security background check means reviewing the following for the purpose of identifying individuals who may pose a threat to transportation security, national security, or of terrorism:

(i) Relevant criminal history databases.

(ii) In the case of an alien (as defined in sec. 101 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(3)), the relevant databases to determine the status of the alien under the immigration laws of the United States.

(iii) Other relevant information or databases, as determined by the Secretary of Homeland Security.

(c) Prohibitions. (1) A public transportation agency or a contractor or subcontractor of a public transportation agency may not knowingly misrepresent to an employee or other relevant person, including an arbiter involved in a labor arbitration, the scope, application, or meaning of any rules, regulations, directives, or guidance issued by the Secretary of Homeland Security related to security background check requirements for employees when conducting a security background check.

(2) A railroad carrier or a contractor or subcontractor of a railroad carrier may not knowingly misrepresent to an employee or other relevant person, including an arbiter involved in a labor arbitration, the scope, application, or meaning of any rules, regulations, directives, or guidance issued by the Secretary of Homeland Security related to security background check requirements for employees when conducting a security background check.

Appendix Appendix A - Appendix A to Part 1570—Reporting of Significant Security Concerns
Category Description
Breach, Attempted Intrusion, and/or InterferenceUnauthorized personnel attempting to or actually entering a restricted area or secure site relating to a transportation facility or conveyance owned, operated, or used by an owner/operator subject to this part. This includes individuals entering or attempting to enter by impersonation of authorized personnel (for example, police/security, janitor, vehicle owner/operator). Activity that could interfere with the ability of employees to perform duties to the extent that security is threatened.
MisrepresentationPresenting false, or misusing, insignia, documents, and/or identification, to misrepresent one's affiliation with an owner/operator subject to this part to cover possible illicit activity that may pose a risk to transportation security.
Theft, Loss, and/or DiversionStealing or diverting identification media or badges, uniforms, vehicles, keys, tools capable of compromising track integrity, portable derails, technology, or classified or sensitive security information documents which are proprietary to the facility or conveyance owned, operated, or used by an owner/operator subject to this part.
Sabotage, Tampering, and/or VandalismDamaging, manipulating, or defeating safety and security appliances in connection with a facility, infrastructure, conveyance, or routing mechanism, resulting in the compromised use or the temporary or permanent loss of use of the facility, infrastructure, conveyance or routing mechanism. Placing or attaching a foreign object to a rail car(s).
Cyber AttackCompromising, or attempting to compromise or disrupt the information/technology infrastructure of an owner/operator subject to this part.
Expressed or Implied ThreatCommunicating a spoken or written threat to damage or compromise a facility/infrastructure/conveyance owned, operated, or used by an owner/operator subject to this part (for example, a bomb threat or active shooter).
Eliciting InformationQuestioning that may pose a risk to transportation or national security, such as asking one or more employees of an owner/operator subject to this part about particular facets of a facility's conveyance's purpose, operations, or security procedures.
Testing or Probing of SecurityDeliberate interactions with employees of an owner/operator subject to this part or challenges to facilities or systems owned, operated, or used by an owner/operator subject to this part that reveal physical, personnel, or cyber security capabilities.
PhotographyTaking photographs or video of facilities, conveyances, or infrastructure owned, operated, or used by an owner/operator subject to this part in a manner that may pose a risk to transportation or national security. Examples include taking photographs or video of infrequently used access points, personnel performing security functions (for example, patrols, badge/vehicle checking), or security-related equipment (for example, perimeter fencing, security cameras).
Observation or SurveillanceDemonstrating unusual interest in facilities or loitering near conveyances, railcar routing appliances or any potentially critical infrastructure owned or operated by an owner/operator subject to this part in a manner that may pose a risk to transportation or national security. Examples include observation through binoculars, taking notes, or attempting to measure distances.
Materials Acquisition and/or StorageAcquisition and/or storage by an employee of an owner/operator subject to this part of materials such as cell phones, pagers, fuel, chemicals, toxic materials, and/or timers that may pose a risk to transportation or national security (for example, storage of chemicals not needed by an employee for the performance of his or her job duties).
Weapons Discovery, Discharge, or Seizure.Weapons or explosives in or around a facility, conveyance, or infrastructure of an owner/operator subject to this part that may present a risk to transportation or national security (for example, discovery of weapons inconsistent with the type or quantity traditionally used by company security personnel).
Suspicious Items or ActivityDiscovery or observation of suspicious items, activity or behavior in or around a facility, conveyance, or infrastructure of an owner/operator subject to this part that results in the disruption or termination of operations (for example, halting the operation of a conveyance while law enforcement personnel investigate a suspicious bag, briefcase, or package).
authority: 18 U.S.C. 842,845; 46 U.S.C. 70105; 49 U.S.C. 114,5103a,40113,and; Pub. L. 108-90 (117 Stat. 1156, Oct. 1, 2003), sec. 520 (6 U.S.C. 469), as amended by Pub. L. 110-329 (122 Stat. 3689, Sept. 30, 2008) sec. 543 (6 U.S.C. 469); Pub. L. 110-53 (121 Stat. 266, Aug. 3, 2007) secs. 1402 (6 U.S.C. 1131), 1405 (6 U.S.C. 1134), 1408 (6 U.S.C. 1137), 1413 (6 U.S.C. 1142), 1414 (6 U.S.C. 1143), 1501 (6 U.S.C. 1151), 1512 (6 U.S.C. 1162), 1517 (6 U.S.C. 1167), 1522 (6 U.S.C. 1170), 1531 (6 U.S.C. 1181), and 1534 (6 U.S.C. 1184)
source: 85 FR 16499, Mar. 23, 2020, unless otherwise noted.
cite as: 49 CFR 1570.301