18 U.S.C. § 2194: Shanghaiing sailors

Summary

It is a crime to force, threaten, lie to, or take advantage of someone (including when they are drunk or on drugs) to get them to board a ship or to sign up to work on a ship, and it is also a crime to knowingly keep that person on the ship. Punishment can be a fine, up to one year in jail, or both. Covered vessels: ships trading between U.S. states or with other countries; U.S. ships on the high seas or on navigable U.S. waters.

Title 18, §2194

Crimes and Criminal Procedure, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

Whoever, with intent that any person shall perform service or labor of any kind on board of any vessel engaged in trade and commerce among the several States or with foreign nations, or on board of any vessel of the United States engaged in navigating the high seas or any navigable water of the United States, procures or induces, or attempts to procure or induce, another, by force or threats or by representations which he knows or believes to be untrue, or while the person so procured or induced is intoxicated or under the influence of any drug, to go on board of any such vessel, or to sign or in anywise enter into any agreement to go on board of any such vessel to perform service or labor thereon; or Whoever knowingly detains on board of any such vessel any person so procured or induced to go on board, or to enter into any agreement to go on board, by any means herein defined— Shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 144 (Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 321, § 82, 35 Stat. 1103). Reference to persons aiding or abetting was omitted as unnecessary as such persons are made principals by section 2 of this title. Minor changes were made in phraseology and arrangement.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1996—Pub. L. 104–294 substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $1,000” in last par.

§2194 Shanghaiing Sailors