Title 49 — TransportationRelease 119-73
§46315 Lighting violations involving transporting controlled substances by aircraft not providing air transportation
Title 49 › Subtitle SUBTITLE VII— - AVIATION PROGRAMS › Part PART A— - AIR COMMERCE AND SAFETY › Subpart subpart iv— - enforcement and penalties › Chapter CHAPTER 463— - PENALTIES › § 46315
Summary
Knowingly flying a noncommercial plane and breaking FAA rules about navigation or anti‑collision lights while knowingly carrying or helping carry illegal drugs is a crime. Penalty: fine, up to 5 years in prison, or both. The drug act must be punishable by death or more than one year in prison, or tied to such an offense (simple possession excluded).
Full Legal Text
Title 49, §46315
Transportation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)This section applies only to aircraft not used to provide air transportation.
(b)A person shall be fined under title 18, imprisoned for not more than 5 years, or both, if—
(1)the person knowingly and willfully operates an aircraft in violation of a regulation or requirement of the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration related to the display of navigation or anticollision lights;
(2)the person is knowingly transporting a controlled substance by aircraft or aiding or facilitating a controlled substance offense; and
(3)the transporting, aiding, or facilitating—
(A)is punishable by death or imprisonment for more than one year under a law of the United States or a State; or
(B)is provided in connection with an act punishable by death or imprisonment for more than one year under a law of the United States or a State related to a controlled substance (except a law related to simple possession of a controlled substance).
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Historical and Revision Notes
Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 46315(a)49 App.:1303 (note).Nov. 18, 1988, Pub. L. 100–690, § 7214, 102 Stat. 4434. 46315(b)49 App.:1472(q).Aug. 23, 1958, Pub. L. 85–726, 72 Stat. 731, § 902(q); added Oct. 19, 1984, Pub. L. 98–499, § 5(a), 98 Stat. 2315; restated Oct. 27, 1986, Pub. L. 99–570, § 3401(b)(1), 100 Stat. 3207–100; Nov. 18, 1988, Pub. L. 100–690, § 7209(c)(1), (2)(A), 102 Stat. 4432. In subsection (b), before clause (1), the words “fined under title 18” are substituted for “a fine not exceeding $25,000” for consistency with title 18. In clause (2), the word “knowingly” is substituted for “and with knowledge of such act” to eliminate unnecessary words.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
49 U.S.C. § 46315
Title 49 — Transportation
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73