§676 Violations

Summary

Violating the rules in this chapter can lead to jail time and fines. For offenses that do not have another criminal penalty, a person or business can be jailed for up to 1 year, fined up to $1,000, or both. If the offense involved trying to cheat or sending out an adulterated item (except as defined in section 601(m)(8) of this title), the penalty rises to up to 3 years in jail, a fine up to $10,000, or both. If someone received an article or animal for transport in good faith, they won’t be punished unless they refuse, when asked by a Secretary’s representative, to give the name and address of the person who gave it to them and any delivery papers. The Secretary may choose to give a written warning instead of starting criminal charges or court actions for minor violations when a warning will protect the public interest.