Title 19, Customs DutiesRelease 119-110
§1630 Authority to Settle Claims
Title 19 › CHAPTER 4 — TARIFF ACT OF 1930 › SUBTITLE III — ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS › Part V — Enforcement Provisions › § 1630
Summary
Secretary may settle up to $50,000 for damage to private property caused on duty by a Customs investigative or law enforcement officer when it can't be settled under chapter 171, title 28. No payment for commercial property, claims filed after 1 year, or claims by federal employees for work incidents; payment is final only if accepted.
Full Legal Text
Title 19, §1630
Customs Duties, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)In general
With respect to a claim that cannot be settled under chapter 171 of title 28, the Secretary may settle, for not more than $50,000 in any one case, a claim for damage to, or loss of, privately owned property caused by an investigative or law enforcement officer (as defined in section 2680(h) of title 28) who is employed by the Customs Service and acting within the scope of his or her employment.
(b)Limitations
The Secretary may not pay a claim under subsection (a) that—
(1)concerns commercial property;
(2)is presented to the Secretary more than 1 year after it occurs; or
(3)is presented by an officer or employee of the United States Government and arose within the scope of employment.
(c)Final settlement
A claim may be paid under this section only if the claimant accepts the amount of settlement in complete satisfaction of the claim.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Transfer of Functions
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.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
19 U.S.C. § 1630
Title 19, Customs Duties
Last Updated
Sep 22, 2026
Release point: 119-110