16 U.S.C. § 2439: Enforcement

Summary

The Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary of the department that runs the Coast Guard must enforce the rules in this chapter. They may use people, services, or facilities from other federal agencies by agreement. Authorized federal officers may serve orders and subpoenas, search people or places without a warrant when they have good reason to think a forbidden act (see section 2435) is happening, board and inspect U.S. vessels, and seize evidence, Antarctic marine life, vessels, vehicles, gear, and equipment tied to illegal acts. They may offer rewards, question people under oath, check imported or exported containers with the Treasury, and arrest people for certain illegal acts when they have reasonable grounds. They can also carry out agreed inspection systems and use any other lawful authority they have. Seized items are held until civil or criminal cases are finished or a forfeiture action starts. A court can order seized items returned to the wild or destroyed if keeping them costs more than their value. Officers who follow such court orders are protected from penalties. Owners may be allowed to post a bond instead of leaving their property seized. Items used in violations may be forfeited to the United States and then handled by the appropriate Secretary under rules that follow the chapter’s goals. Customs laws about seizure, forfeiture, and sale apply when they fit, and the Secretaries or their designees may use customs powers for enforcement.

Title 16, §2439

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(a)Responsibility

The provisions of this chapter shall be enforced by the Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating. Such Secretaries may utilize by agreement, on a reimbursable basis or otherwise, the personnel, services, and facilities of any other department or agency of the United States in the performance of such duties.

(b)Powers of authorized officers and employees

Any officer or employee of the United States who is authorized (by the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating, or the head of any department or agency of the United States which has entered into an agreement with either Secretary under subsection (a)) to enforce the provisions of this chapter and of any regulation promulgated under this chapter may, in enforcing such provisions—

(1)secure, execute, and serve any order, warrant, subpoena, or other process, which is issued under the authority of the United States;

(2)search without warrant any person, place, vehicle or aircraft subject to the jurisdiction of the United States where there are reasonable grounds to believe that a person has committed or is attempting to commit an act prohibited by section 2435 of this title;

(3)with or without a warrant board and search or inspect any vessel of the United States or vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States;

(4)seize without warrant—

(A)any evidentiary item where there are reasonable grounds to believe that a person has committed or is attempting to commit an act prohibited by section 2435 of this title,

(B)any Antarctic marine living resources (or part of product thereof) with respect to which such an act is committed,

(C)any vessel of the United States (including its gear, furniture, appurtenances, stores, and cargo), any vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States (including its gear, furniture, appurtenances, stores, and cargo), and any vehicle, aircraft, or other means of transportation subject to the jurisdiction of the United States used in connection with such an act, and

(D)any guns, traps, nets, or equipment used in connection with such an act;

(5)offer and pay rewards for services or information which may lead to the apprehension of persons violating such provisions;

(6)make inquiries, and administer to, or take from, any person an oath, affirmation, or affidavit, concerning any matter which is related to the enforcement of such provisions;

(7)in coordination with the Secretary of the Treasury, detain for inspection and inspect any package, crate, or other container, including its contents, and all accompanying documents, upon importation into, or exportation from, the United States;

(8)make an arrest with or without a warrant with respect to any act prohibited by paragraph (4), (5), (6), or (7) of section 2435 of this title if such officer or employee has reasonable grounds to believe that the person to be arrested is committing such act in his or her presence or view or has committed such act;

(9)exercise enforcement powers conferred on such officer or employee under a system of observation and inspection, or interim arrangements pending the establishment of such a system, which the Secretary of State has agreed to on behalf of the United States pursuant to section 2434(b) of this title; and

(10)exercise any other authority which such officer or employee is permitted by law to exercise.

(c)Seizure

Subject to the succeeding provisions of this subsection, any property or item seized pursuant to subsection (b) shall be held by any officer or employee of the United States, who is authorized by the Secretary of Commerce or the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating, pending the disposition of civil or criminal proceedings concerning the violation relating to the property or item, or the institution of an action in rem for the forfeiture of such property or item. Such authorized officer or employee may, upon the order of a court of competent jurisdiction, either release such seized property or item to the wild or destroy such property or item, when the cost of maintenance of the property or item pending the disposition of the case is greater than the legitimate market value of the property or item. Such authorized officer or employee and all officers or employees acting by or under his or her direction shall be indemnified from any penalties or actions for damages for so releasing or destroying such property or item. Such authorized officer or employee may, in lieu of holding such property or item, permit the owner or consignee thereof to post a bond or other satisfactory surety.

(d)Forfeiture

(1)Any Antarctic marine living resource (or part or product thereof) with respect to which an act prohibited by section 2435 of this title is committed, any vessel of the United States (including its gear, furniture, appurtenances, stoves, and cargo), vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States (including its gear, furniture, appurtenances, stoves, and cargo), or vessel, vehicle, or aircraft or other means of transportation subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, which is used in connection with an act prohibited by section 2435 of this title, and all guns, traps, nets, and other equipment used in connection with such act, shall be subject to forfeiture to the United States.

(2)Upon the forfeiture to the United States of any property or item described in paragraph (1), or upon the abandonment or waiver of any claim to any such property or item, it shall be disposed of by the Secretary of Commerce, or the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating, as the case may be, in such a manner, consistent with the purposes of this chapter, as may be prescribed by regulation.

(e)Application of customs laws

All provisions of law relating to the seizure, forfeiture, and condemnation of property (including vessels) for violation of the customs laws, the disposition of such property or the proceeds from the sale thereof, and the remission or mitigation of such forfeiture, shall apply to the seizures and forfeitures incurred, or alleged to have been incurred, and the compromise of claims, under the provisions of this chapter, insofar as such provisions of law are applicable and not inconsistent with the provisions of this chapter; except that all powers, rights, and duties conferred or imposed by the customs laws upon any officer or employee of the Customs Service may, for the purposes of this chapter, also be exercised or performed by the Secretary of Commerce or the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating, or by such officers or employees of the United States as each Secretary may designate.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Transfer of Functions

For transfer of authorities, functions, personnel, and assets of the Coast Guard, including the authorities and functions of the Secretary of Transportation relating thereto, to the Department of Homeland Security, and for treatment of related references, see section 468(b), 551(d), 552(d), and 557 of Title 6, Domestic Security, and the Department of Homeland Security Reorganization Plan of November 25, 2002, as modified, set out as a note under section 542 of Title 6. For

Transfer of Functions

, personnel, assets, and liabilities of the United States Customs Service of the Department of the Treasury, including functions of the Secretary of the Treasury relating thereto, to the Secretary of Homeland Security, and for treatment of related references, see section 203(1), 551(d), 552(d), and 557 of Title 6, Domestic Security, and the Department of Homeland Security Reorganization Plan of November 25, 2002, as modified, set out as a note under section 542 of Title 6. For establishment of U.S. Customs and Border Protection in the Department of Homeland Security, treated as if included in Pub. L. 107–296 as of Nov. 25, 2002, see section 211 of Title 6, as amended generally by Pub. L. 114–125, and section 802(b) of Pub. L. 114–125, set out as a note under section 211 of Title 6.

§2439 Enforcement

Summary

Title 16, §2439

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Transfer of Functions

Transfer of Functions

Citations & Metadata