Title 19 — Customs DutiesRelease 119-73
§1704 Refusal or revocation of registry, enrollment, license or number on evidence that vessel engaging in smuggling; appeal; immunity from liability
Title 19 › Chapter CHAPTER 5— - SMUGGLING › § 1704
Summary
The Secretary of Transportation must cancel or deny a vessel’s certificate endorsement or its registration number (when he issues that number under chapter 123 of title 46) if he finds enough evidence that the vessel is being used or intended to be used to smuggle or unlawfully bring goods or people into the United States, or to smuggle goods into another country in violation of that country’s laws, or if the ship’s design, fittings, or repairs show it was built or changed for smuggling. A decision can be appealed to the Secretary of the Treasury under rules the Treasury Secretary sets. The Secretary of Transportation and people acting under his orders are protected from fines or lawsuits for carrying out this action.
Full Legal Text
Title 19, §1704
Customs Duties — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Subject to appeal to the Secretary of the Treasury and under such regulations as he may prescribe, when the Secretary of Transportation is shown upon evidence which he deems sufficient that such vessel is being, or is intended to be, employed to smuggle, transport, or otherwise assist in the unlawful introduction or importation into the United States of any merchandise or person, or to smuggle any merchandise into the territory of any foreign government in violation of the laws there in force, if under the laws of such foreign government any penalty or forfeiture is provided for violation of the laws of the United States respecting the customs revenue, or whenever, from the design or fittings of any vessel or the nature of any repairs made thereon, it is apparent to the Secretary of Transportation that such vessel has been built or adapted for the purpose of smuggling merchandise, the the 11 So in original. Secretary of Transportation shall revoke any endorsement on the vessel’s certificate of documentation or number (when the Secretary is the authority issuing the number under chapter 123 of title 46) or refuse the same if application be made therefor, as the case may be. The Secretary of Transportation and all persons acting by or under his direction shall be indemnified from any penalties or actions for damages for carrying out the provisions of this section.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1993—Pub. L. 103–182, § 689(b)(4), substituted “The Secretary of Transportation and all persons” for “Such collector and all persons”. Pub. L. 103–182, § 689(b)(3), which directed the substitution of “the Secretary of Transportation shall revoke any endorsement on the vessel’s certificate of documentation or number (when the Secretary is the authority issuing the number under chapter 123 of title 46)” for “said collector shall revoke the registry, enrollment, license, or number of such vessel”, was executed by making the substitution in text which read “said vessel” rather than “such vessel”, to reflect the probable intent of Congress. Pub. L. 103–182, § 689(b)(1), (2), substituted “when the Secretary of Transportation” for “whenever the collector of customs of the district in which any vessel is, or is sought to be, registered, enrolled, licensed, or numbered,” and “is apparent to the Secretary of Transportation” for “is apparent to such collector”.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Transfer of Functions
Coast Guard transferred to Department of Transportation and functions, powers, and duties, relating to Coast Guard, of Secretary of the Treasury and of other offices and officers of Department of the Treasury transferred to Secretary of Transportation by section 6(b)(1) of Pub. L. 89–670, Oct. 15, 1966, 80 Stat. 938. section 6(b)(2), however, provided that notwithstanding such
Transfer of Functions
, Coast Guard shall operate as part of Navy in time of war or when President directs as provided in former section 3 (now 103) of Title 14, Coast Guard. See section 108 of Title 49, Transportation.
Executive Documents
Transfer of Functions
All offices of collector of customs, comptroller of customs, surveyor of customs, and appraiser of merchandise in Bureau of Customs of Department of the Treasury to which appointments were required to be made by President with advice and consent of Senate ordered abolished, with such offices to be terminated not later than
December 31, 1966, by Reorg. Plan No. 1, of 1965, eff.
May 25, 1965, 30 F.R. 7035, 79 Stat. 1317, set out as a note under section 1 of this title. Functions of all officers of Department of the Treasury and functions of all agencies and employees of such Department transferred, with certain exceptions, to Secretary of the Treasury, with power vested in him to authorize their performance or performance of any of his functions, by any of those officers, agencies, and employees, by Reorg. Plan No. 26, of 1950, §§ 1, 2, eff.
July 31, 1950, 15 F.R. 4935, 64 Stat. 1280, 1281, set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees. Under the Plan, collectors of customs and Commandant of Coast Guard were officers of Department of the Treasury, but, in case of Coast Guard, and Commandant thereof, the Plan provided that, notwithstanding
Transfer of Functions
, Coast Guard should continue to operate as a part of Navy, subject to orders of Secretary of the Navy, in time of war or when President directed, as provided in former section 1 and 3 (now 101 and 103) of Title 14, Coast Guard. “Secretary of the Treasury” substituted in text for “Secretary of Commerce” and functions under this section relating to the numbering of vessels vested in Commandant of Coast Guard instead of collectors of customs on authority of Reorg. Plan No. 3 of 1946, set out in the Appendix to Title 5.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
19 U.S.C. § 1704
Title 19 — Customs Duties
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73