Title 49TransportationRelease 119-73

§46314 Entering aircraft or airport area in violation of security requirements

Title 49 › Subtitle SUBTITLE VII— - AVIATION PROGRAMS › Part PART A— - AIR COMMERCE AND SAFETY › Subpart subpart iv— - enforcement and penalties › Chapter CHAPTER 463— - PENALTIES › § 46314

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

You must not, on purpose and knowing it breaks airport security rules under sections 44901, 44903(b) or (c), or 44906, enter an airplane or an airport area that serves an air carrier or foreign air carrier. If you do, you can be fined under Title 18, jailed for up to one year, or both. If you enter to evade security procedures or to try to commit a felony in the aircraft or airport area, you can be fined under Title 18, jailed for up to 10 years, or both. Airports that must have a security program under section 44903(c) must post signs (as the Secretary of Homeland Security requires) near screening areas, exits from the sterile area, and other places the Secretary picks. The signs must notify people of the penalties in section 46301(a)(5)(A)(i) and subsection (b). You can be penalized whether or not those signs are posted.

Full Legal Text

Title 49, §46314

Transportation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)A person may not knowingly and willfully enter, in violation of security requirements prescribed under section 44901, 44903(b) or (c), or 44906 of this title, an aircraft or an airport area that serves an air carrier or foreign air carrier.
(b)(1)A person violating subsection (a) of this section shall be fined under title 18, imprisoned for not more than one year, or both.
(2)A person violating subsection (a) of this section with intent to evade security procedures or restrictions or with intent to commit, in the aircraft or airport area, a felony under a law of the United States or a State shall be fined under title 18, imprisoned for not more than 10 years, or both.
(c)(1)Each operator of an airport in the United States that is required to establish an air transportation security program pursuant to section 44903(c) shall ensure that signs that meet such requirements as the Secretary of Homeland Security may prescribe providing notice of the penalties imposed under section 46301(a)(5)(A)(i) and subsection (b) of this section are displayed near all screening locations, all locations where passengers exit the sterile area, and such other locations at the airport as the Secretary of Homeland Security determines appropriate.
(2)An individual shall be subject to a penalty imposed under section 46301(a)(5)(A)(i) or subsection (b) of this section without regard to whether signs are displayed at an airport as required by paragraph (1).

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 4631449 App.:1472(r).Aug. 23, 1958, Pub. L. 85–726, 72 Stat. 731, § 902(r); added Dec. 30, 1987, Pub. L. 100–223, § 204(f)(2), 101 Stat. 1520. In subsection (b), the words “fined under title 18” are substituted for “a fine not to exceed $1,000” and “a fine not to exceed $10,000” for consistency with title 18. In subsection (b)(1), the words “Upon conviction” are omitted as surplus. In subsection (b)(2), the words “airport area” are substituted for “secured area” for consistency in this section.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2011—Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 112–74, § 564(b), inserted “with intent to evade security procedures or restrictions or” after “of this section”. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 112–74, § 564(c), added subsec. (c).

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

49 U.S.C. § 46314

Title 49Transportation

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73