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Title 19, Customs DutiesRelease 119-102

§1455 Boarding and Discharging Inspectors

Title 19 › CHAPTER 4 — TARIFF ACT OF 1930 › SUBTITLE III — ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS › Part II — Report, Entry, and Unlading of Vessels and Vehicles › § 1455

Last updated Aug 21, 2026|Official source

Summary

A district customs officer can place one or more inspectors or other customs officers on any ship or vehicle that arrives from a foreign port while it is in the district, and if needed while it moves between districts. Those officers can inspect cargo, supervise unloading, seal hatches or openings when the vessel is not unloading, and stop unloading during bad weather or other dangerous conditions. Anyone who blocks or hinders an inspector can be fined up to $500.

Full Legal Text

Title 19, §1455

Customs Duties, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

The appropriate customs officer for the district in which any vessel or vehicle arrives from a foreign port or place may put on board of such vessel or vehicle while within such district, and if necessary while going from one district to another, one or more inspectors or other customs officers to examine the cargo and contents of such vessel or vehicle and superintend the unlading thereof, and to perform such other duties as may be required by law or the customs regulations for the protection of the revenue. Such inspector or other customs officer may, if he shall deem the same necessary for the protection of the revenue, secure the hatches or other communications or outlets of such vessel or vehicle with customs seals or other proper fastenings while such vessel is not in the act of unlading and such fastenings shall not be removed without permission of the inspector or other customs officer. Such inspector or other customs officer may require any vessel or vehicle to discontinue or suspend unlading during the continuance of unfavorable weather or any conditions rendering the discharge of cargo dangerous or detrimental to the revenue. Any officer, owner, agent of the owner, or member of the crew of any such vessel who obstructs or hinders any such inspector or other customs officer in the performance of his duties, shall be liable to a penalty of not more than $500.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in act Sept. 21, 1922, ch. 356, title IV, § 454, 42 Stat. 955. That section was superseded by section 455 of act June 17, 1930, comprising this section, and repealed by section 651(a)(1) of the 1930 act. Provisions on the subject matter of this section were contained in R.S. §§ 2834 (as amended by act Mar. 3, 1897, ch. 389, § 15, 29 Stat. 691), 2875, and 3070; and special provisions for particular ports in section 2588, 2590 and 2832. Provisions as to the duties of inspectors, the records to be kept and returns to be made by them and the comparison of their returns with the manifests and entries, were contained in R.S. §§ 2876, 2877, 2888 and 2889. All the foregoing sections were repealed by act Sept. 21, 1922, ch. 356, title IV, § 642, 42 Stat. 989.

Amendments

1970—Pub. L. 91–271 substituted reference to appropriate customs officer for reference to collector.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 1970 AmendmentFor

Effective Date

of amendment by Pub. L. 91–271, see section 203 of Pub. L. 91–271, set out as a note under section 1500 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

19 U.S.C. § 1455

Title 19, Customs Duties

Last Updated

Aug 21, 2026

Release point: 119-102