(a) General Authority.—In carrying out this chapter, the Secretary of Transportation may—
(1) inspect and copy records of any person at reasonable times;
(2) order a person to file written reports or answers to specific questions, including reports or answers under oath; and
(3) conduct hearings, administer oaths, take testimony, and require (by subpena or otherwise) the appearance and testimony of witnesses and the production of records the Secretary considers advisable.
Terms Used In 49 USC 32307
- officer: includes any person authorized by law to perform the duties of the office. See 1 USC 1
- Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.
(b) Witness Fees and Mileage.—A witness summoned under subsection (a) of this section is entitled to the same fee and mileage the witness would have been paid in a court of the United States.
(c) Civil Actions To Enforce.—A civil action to enforce a subpena or order of the Secretary under subsection (a) of this section may be brought in the United States district court for the judicial district in which the proceeding by the Secretary is conducted. The court may punish a failure to obey an order of the court to comply with the subpena or order of the Secretary as a contempt of court.
(d) Confidentiality of Information.—Information obtained by the Secretary under this section related to a confidential matter referred to in section 1905 of title 18 may be disclosed only to another officer or employee of the United States Government for use in carrying out this chapter. This subsection does not authorize information to be withheld from a committee of Congress authorized to have the information.
