Title 46ShippingRelease 119-73

§4307 Prohibited acts

Title 46 › Subtitle Subtitle II— - Vessels and Seamen › Part Part B— - Inspection and Regulation of Vessels › Chapter CHAPTER 43— - RECREATIONAL VESSELS › § 4307

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

You must not make, sell, bring into the United States, or move across state lines a recreational boat, its equipment, or parts unless it follows the rules in this chapter and has no defect that the Secretary or the maker told you creates a serious risk of injury, or unless it is only for export and clearly labeled on the item and its shipping container. You must not put any false or misleading U.S. government compliance mark, label, or document on a boat or its equipment. You must send required notices and reports and do so with reasonable care. You also must not operate a vessel in a way that breaks the rules in this chapter or its regulations.

Full Legal Text

Title 46, §4307

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(a)A person may not—
(1)manufacture, construct, assemble, sell or offer for sale, introduce or deliver for introduction into interstate commerce, or import into the United States, a recreational vessel, associated equipment, or component of the vessel or equipment unless—
(A)(i)it conforms with this chapter or a regulation prescribed under this chapter; and
(ii)it does not contain a defect which has been identified, in any communication to such person by the Secretary or the manufacturer of that vessel, equipment or component, as creating a substantial risk of personal injury to the public; or
(B)it is intended only for export and is so labeled, tagged, or marked on the recreational vessel or equipment, including any markings on the outside of the container in which it is to be exported;
(2)affix, attach, or display a seal, document, label, plate, insignia, or other device indicating or suggesting compliance with standards of the United States Government on, in, or in connection with, a recreational vessel or item of associated equipment that is false or misleading; or
(3)fail to provide a notification as required by this chapter or fail to exercise reasonable diligence in carrying out the notification and reporting requirements of this chapter.
(b)A person may not operate a vessel in violation of this chapter or a regulation prescribed under this chapter.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised sectionSource section (U.S. Code) 4307(a)46:1461(a) 4307(b)46:1461(c) section 4307 prohibits certain acts in the manufacture and operation of recreational vessels.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1984—Subsec. (a)(1)(A). Pub. L. 98–557 designated existing provisions as cl. (i), substituted “and” for “or”, and added cl. (ii).

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

46 U.S.C. § 4307

Title 46Shipping

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73