§12507 — Title 46 Shipping | U.S. Code

Summary

Lying about a vessel’s identity or tampering with its official ID number to commit fraud can lead to criminal punishment. A person can be fined under federal law, jailed for up to 2 years, or both. A person can also face a civil fine of up to $10,000 for giving false information, breaking the rule about the vessel ID number (section 12502), or not following the Secretary’s rules (section 12505). The vessel and its equipment can be seized and forfeited. If a company breaks these rules, its president or CEO can also be punished.

Title 46, §12507

Shipping — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)A person shall be fined under title 18, imprisoned for not more than 2 years, or both, if the person with the intent to defraud—

(1)provides false information to the Secretary of Transportation or a State issuing authority regarding the identification of a vessel under this chapter; or

(2)tampers with, removes, or falsifies the unique vessel identification number assigned to a vessel under section 12502 of this title.

(b)A person is liable to the United States Government for a civil penalty of not more than $10,000 if the person—

(1)provides false information to the Secretary or a State issuing authority regarding the identification of a vessel under this chapter;

(2)violates section 12502 of this title; or

(3)fails to comply with requirements prescribed by the Secretary under section 12505 of this title.

(c)A vessel involved in a violation of this chapter, or regulation under this chapter, and its equipment, may be seized by, and forfeited to, the Government.

(d)If a person, not an individual, is involved in a violation of this chapter, the president or chief executive of the person also is subject to any penalty provided under this section.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised section 12507 This section establishes criminal and civil penalties for certain violations of chapter 125 of title 46 (as enacted by this Act).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Section effective Jan. 1, 1989, with certain exceptions and qualifications, see section 107 of Pub. L. 100–710, set out as a note under section 31301 of this title.

§12507 Penalties