18 U.S.C. § 2197: Misuse of Federal…

Summary

Using, showing, getting, or keeping any certificate, license, or document meant for ships, ship officers, or seamen that a U.S. official issues, when you are not legally allowed to do so, is a crime. It is also a crime to change, forge, counterfeit, steal, print blank forms, possess blank forms with intent to misuse them, or pass any such false or unentitled document to someone else. Anyone who does these things can be fined, put in prison for not more than five years, or both.

Title 18, §2197

Crimes and Criminal Procedure, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

Whoever, not being lawfully entitled thereto, uses, exhibits, or attempts to use or exhibit, or, with intent unlawfully to use the same, receives or possesses any certificate, license, or document issued to vessels, or officers or seamen by any officer or employee of the United States authorized by law to issue the same; or Whoever, without authority, alters or attempts to alter any such certificate, license, or document by addition, interpolation, deletion, or erasure; or Whoever forges, counterfeits, or steals, or attempts to forge, counterfeit, or steal, any such certificate, license, or document; or unlawfully possesses or knowingly uses any such altered, changed, forged, counterfeit, or stolen certificate, license, or document; or Whoever, without authority, prints or manufactures any blank form of such certificate, license, or document, or Whoever possesses without lawful excuse, and with intent unlawfully to use the same, any blank form of such certificate, license, or document; or Whoever, in any manner, transfers or negotiates such transfer of, any blank form of such certificate, license, or document, or any such altered, forged, counterfeit, or stolen certificate, license, or document, or any such certificate, license, or document to which the party transferring or receiving the same is not lawfully entitled— Shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Based on section 710a of title 46, U.S.C., 1940 ed., Shipping (June 25, 1936, ch. 816, § 6, 49 Stat. 1936). The phrase “the Bureau of Marine Inspection and Navigation,” identifying the agency issuing the certificate, license or document, was omitted without change of substance. The functions of the Bureau of Marine Inspection and Navigation were transferred to the Bureau of Customs and the Coast Guard by Executive Order 9083 Feb. 28, 1942, title 50, App. U.S.C., 1940 ed., following § 601. Such transfer is temporary under section 621 of title 50, App., U.S.C., 1940 ed. (First War Powers Act). As revised the section is broad enough to embrace certificates, licenses and documents issued by the officers or employees of the Coast Guard and Customs Service, as the case may be. Reference to persons causing, procuring, aiding or abetting was omitted as such persons are principals under section 2 of this title. Words “upon conviction thereof” were omitted as unnecessary, since punishment cannot be imposed until a conviction is secured. Changes were made in phraseology and arrangement.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1994—Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $5,000” in last par.

§2197 Misuse of Federal Certificate, License or Document