Title 47Telegraphs, Telephones, and RadiotelegraphsRelease 119-73

§362 Forfeitures; recovery

Title 47 › Chapter CHAPTER 5— - WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER III— - SPECIAL PROVISIONS RELATING TO RADIO › Part Part II— - Radio Equipment and Radio Operators On Board Ship › § 362

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Leaving or trying to leave a U.S. harbor, or navigating outside a harbor while breaking this part or Commission rules, must pay a $5,000 penalty. Each departure or attempt is a separate offense, and for U.S.-flag ships each day of such navigation is a separate offense. The master of a U.S. ship who willfully fails to enforce or follow rules about equipment, crew watches, or radio service must pay $1,000. The money goes to the United States.

Full Legal Text

Title 47, §362

Telegraphs, Telephones, and Radiotelegraphs — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

The following forfeitures shall apply to this part, in addition to the penalties and forfeitures provided by subchapter V of this chapter:
(a)Any ship that leaves or attempts to leave any harbor or port of the United States in violation of the provisions of this part, or the rules and regulations of the Commission made in pursuance thereof, or any ship of the United States that is navigated outside of any harbor or port in violation of any of the provisions of this part, or the rules and regulations of the Commission made in pursuance thereof, shall forfeit to the United States the sum of $5,000, recoverable by way of suit or libel. Each such departure or attempted departure, and in the case of a ship of the United States each day during which such navigation occurs shall constitute a separate offense.
(b)Every willful failure on the part of the master of a ship of the United States to enforce or to comply with the provisions of this chapter or the rules and regulations of the Commission as to equipment, operators, watches, or radio service shall cause him to forfeit to the United States the sum of $1,000.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

This part, referred to in text, commences with section 351 of this title. This chapter, referred to in subsec. (b), was in the original “this Act”, meaning act June 19, 1934, ch. 652, 48 Stat. 1064, known as the Communications Act of 1934, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 609 of this title and Tables.

Amendments

1989—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 101–239, § 3002(g)(1), substituted “$5,000” for “$500”. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 101–239, § 3002(g)(2), substituted “$1,000” for “$100”.

Effective Date

Section effective
May 20, 1937, see section 16 of act
May 20, 1937, set out as a note under section 351 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

47 U.S.C. § 362

Title 47Telegraphs, Telephones, and Radiotelegraphs

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73