Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal ProcedureRelease 119-73
§796 Use of aircraft for photographing defense installations
Title 18 › Part PART I— - CRIMES › Chapter CHAPTER 37— - ESPIONAGE AND CENSORSHIP › § 796
Summary
Using an aircraft or any flying device to take photos, sketches, maps, or other images of important military or naval sites in violation of section 795 is a crime. A person convicted can be fined under federal law, jailed for up to one year, or both.
Full Legal Text
Title 18, §796
Crimes and Criminal Procedure — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Whoever uses or permits the use of an aircraft or any contrivance used, or designed for navigation or flight in the air, for the purpose of making a photograph, sketch, picture, drawing, map, or graphical representation of vital military or naval installations or equipment, in violation of section 795 of this title, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Historical and Revision Notes
Based on section 45, 45a, and 45c of title 50, U.S.C., 1940 ed., War and National Defense (Jan. 12, 1938, ch. 2, §§ 1, 2, 4, 52 Stat. 3, 4). Reference to persons causing or procuring was omitted as unnecessary in view of definition of “principal” in section 2 of this title. Punishment provided by section 795 of this title is repeated, and is from said section 45 of title 50, U.S.C., 1940 ed. Minor changes were made in phraseology.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1994—Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $1,000”.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
18 U.S.C. § 796
Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal Procedure
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73