Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal ProcedureRelease 119-73not60
§2152 Fortifications, Harbor Defenses, or Defensive Sea Areas
Title 18 › Part I— CRIMES › Chapter 105— SABOTAGE › § 2152
Summary
Entering on purpose, damaging, or destroying U.S. submarine mines, torpedoes, fortifications, or harbor defenses; interfering with their use; or breaking Presidential orders creating defensive sea areas is a crime punishable by fine, imprisonment not more than five years, or both.
Full Legal Text
Title 18, §2152
Crimes and Criminal Procedure — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Whoever willfully trespasses upon, injures, or destroys any of the works or property or material of any submarine mine or torpedo or fortification or harbor-defense system owned or constructed or in process of construction by the United States; or Whoever willfully interferes with the operation or use of any such submarine mine, torpedo, fortification, or harbor-defense system; or Whoever knowingly, willfully, or wantonly violates any duly authorized and promulgated order or regulation of the President governing persons or vessels within the limits of defensive sea areas, which the President, for purposes of national defense, may from time to time establish by executive order— Shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Historical and Revision Notes
Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 96 (Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 321, § 44, 35 Stat. 1097; Mar. 4, 1917, ch. 180, 39 Stat. 1194; May 22, 1917, ch. 20, § 19, 40 Stat. 89). Jurisdiction and venue provisions were omitted as unnecessary and inconsistent with Rule 18 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure providing for prosecution where the offense is committed, and section 3238 of this title providing that trial of offenses committed outside any district shall be in the district where the offender is found, or into which he is first brought. Words “on conviction thereof” were omitted as surplusage as punishment cannot be imposed until conviction is had. Minor changes were made in phraseology.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1994—Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $5,000” in last par.
Executive Documents
Executive Order No. 10361 Ex. Ord. No. 10361,
June 12, 1952, 17 F.R. 5357, formerly set out under this section, which established the Whittier Defensive Sea Area, Alaska, was revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 11549,
July 28, 1970, 35 F.R. 12191.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
18 U.S.C. § 2152
Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal Procedure
Last Updated
Apr 5, 2026
Release point: 119-73not60