penalties

penalties Sec. 110. (a) Civil.—(1) Any person (except an employee who acts without knowledge) who is determined by the Secretary, after notice and an opportunity for a hearing, to have knowingly committed an act which is a violation of a provision of this title or of a regulation issued under this title, shall be liable to the United States for a civil penalty. Whoever knowingly commits an act which is a violation of any regulation, applicable to any person who transports or causes to be transported or shipped hazardous materials, shall be subject to a civil penalty of not more than $10,000 for each violation, and if any such violation is a continuing one, each day of violation constitutes a separate offense. Whoever knowingly commits an act which is a violation of any regulation applicable to any person who manufactures, fabricates, marks, maintains, reconditions, repairs, or tests a package or container which is represented, marked, certified, or sold by such person for use in the transportation in commerce of hazardous materials shall be subject to a civil penalty of not more than $10,000 for each violation. The amount of any such penalty shall be assessed by the Secretary by written notice. In determining the amount of such penalty, the Secretary shall take into account the nature, circumstances, extent, and gravity of the violation committed and, with respect to the person found to have committed such violation, the degree of culpability, any history of prior offenses, ability to pay, effect on ability to continue to do business, and such other matters as justice may require. (2) Such civil penalty may be recovered in an action brought by the Attorney General on behalf of the United States in the appropriate district court of the United States or, prior to referral to the Attorney General, such civil penalty may be compromised by the Secretary. 88 Stat. 2161 The amount of such penalty, when finally determined (or agreed upon in compromise), may be deducted from any sums owed by the United States to the person charged. All penalties collected under this subsection shall be deposited in the Treasury of the United States as miscellaneous receipts. (b) Criminal.—A person is guilty of an offense if he willfully violates a provision of this title or a regulation issued under this title. Upon conviction, such person shall be subject, for each offense, to a fine of not more than $25,000, imprisonment for a term not to exceed 5 years, or both.