Collapse to view only § 1503.207 - Inspection authority.

§ 1503.201 - Reports of violations.

(a) Any person who knows of a violation of a TSA requirement should report it to appropriate personnel of any TSA office.

(b) TSA will review each report made under this section, together with any other information TSA may have that is relevant to the matter reported, to determine the appropriate response, including additional investigation or administrative or legal enforcement action.

§ 1503.203 - Investigations.

(a) General. The Administrator, or a designated official, may conduct investigations, hold hearings, issue subpoenas, require the production of relevant documents, records, and property, and take evidence and depositions.

(b) Delegation of authority. For the purpose of investigating alleged violations of a TSA requirement, the Administrator's authority may be exercised by the agency's various offices for matters within their respective areas for all routine investigations. When the compulsory processes of 49 U.S.C. 46104 are invoked, the Administrator's authority has been delegated to the Chief Counsel, each Deputy Chief Counsel, and in consultation with the Office of Chief Counsel, the Assistant Administrator for Security Operations, the Assistant Administrator for Transportation Sector Network Management, the Assistant Administrator for Inspections, the Assistant Administrator for Law Enforcement/Director of the Federal Air Marshal Service, each Special Agent in Charge, and each Federal Security Director.

§ 1503.205 - Records, documents, and reports.

Each record, document, and report that regulations issued by the Transportation Security Administration require to be maintained, exhibited, or submitted to the Administrator may be used in any investigation conducted by the Administrator; and, except to the extent the use may be specifically limited or prohibited by the section that imposes the requirement, the records, documents, and reports may be used in any civil penalty action or other legal proceeding.

§ 1503.207 - Inspection authority.

(a) Each person subject to any of the requirements in this chapter or other applicable authority must allow TSA and other authorized DHS officials, at any time and in a reasonable manner, without advance notice, to enter, assess, inspect, and test property, facilities, equipment, and operations; and to view, inspect, and copy records, as necessary to carry out TSA's security-related statutory or regulatory authorities and without a subpoena, including its authority to—

(1) Assess threats to transportation.

(2) Enforce security-related laws, regulations, directives, and requirements.

(3) Inspect, maintain, and test the security of facilities, equipment, and systems.

(4) Ensure the adequacy of security measures for the transportation of passengers and cargo.

(5) Oversee the implementation, and ensure the adequacy, of security measures for conveyances and vehicles, at transportation facilities and infrastructure and other assets related to transportation.

(6) Review security plans and/or programs.

(7) Determine compliance with any requirements in this chapter.

(8) Carry out such other duties, and exercise such other powers, relating to transportation security, as the Administrator for TSA considers appropriate, to the extent authorized by law.

(b) At the request of TSA, each person subject to the requirements of this chapter must provide evidence of compliance with this chapter, including copies of records.

(c) TSA and other authorized DHS officials, may enter, without advance notice, and be present within any area or within any vehicle or conveyance, terminal, or other facility covered by this chapter without access media or identification media issued or approved by a person subject to requirements in this chapter or other applicable authority in order to inspect or test compliance, or perform other such duties as TSA may direct.

(d) TSA inspectors and other authorized DHS officials working with TSA will, on request, present their credentials for examination, but the credentials may not be photocopied or otherwise reproduced.

[89 FR 35625, May 1, 2024]