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Title 33 — Navigation and Navigable WatersRelease 119-73not60

§533 Penalties for Violations

Title 33 › Chapter 11— BRIDGES OVER NAVIGABLE WATERS › Subchapter III— GENERAL BRIDGE AUTHORITY › § 533

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

You must follow lawful orders and conditions from the Secretary who oversees the Coast Guard or from the Chief of Engineers about bridges, and you must obey subpoenas to produce books, papers, or documents under this law. If you willfully refuse or willfully break these rules, you can be convicted and punished by a fine up to $5,000, by up to one year in jail, or by both. Anyone who breaks any rule or order under this law can also face civil fines that change by year: $5,000 for a violation in 2004; $10,000 for 2005; $15,000 for 2006; $20,000 for 2007; and $25,000 for 2008 and later. Each day the violation continues counts as a separate offense. No fine can be imposed until the person gets notice and a chance for a hearing. The Secretary (for the department that runs the Coast Guard) can assess and collect the fine and may reduce, cancel, or settle it until the case goes to the Attorney General. If the fine is not paid, the government can sue in U.S. district court in the district where the violation happened.

Full Legal Text

Title 33, §533

Navigation and Navigable Waters — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Any person who willfully fails or refuses to comply with any lawful order of the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating or the Chief of Engineers issued under the provisions of this subchapter, or who willfully fails to comply with any specific condition imposed by the Chief of Engineers and the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating relating to the maintenance and operation of bridges, or who willfully refuses to produce books, papers, or documents in obedience to a subpena or other lawful requirement under this subchapter, or who otherwise willfully violates any provisions of this subchapter, shall, upon conviction thereof, be punished by a fine of not to exceed $5,000 or by imprisonment for not more than one year, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
(b)Whoever violates any provision of this subchapter, or any order issued under this subchapter, shall be liable to a civil penalty of not more than $5,000 for a violation occurring in 2004; $10,000 for a violation occurring in 2005; $15,000 for a violation occurring in 2006; $20,000 for a violation occurring in 2007; and $25,000 for a violation occurring in 2008 and any year thereafter. Each day a violation continues shall be deemed a separate offense. No penalty may be assessed under this subsection until the person charged is given notice and an opportunity for a hearing on the charge. The Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating may assess and collect any civil penalty incurred under this subsection and, in his discretion, may remit, mitigate, or compromise any penalty until the matter is referred to the Attorney General. If a person against whom a civil penalty is assessed under this subsection fails to pay that penalty, an action may be commenced in the district court of the United States for any district in which the violation occurs for such penalty.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2016—Pub. L. 114–120 substituted “Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating” for “Secretary of Transportation” wherever appearing. 2004—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 108–293 substituted “$5,000 for a violation occurring in 2004; $10,000 for a violation occurring in 2005; $15,000 for a violation occurring in 2006; $20,000 for a violation occurring in 2007; and $25,000 for a violation occurring in 2008 and any year thereafter” for “$1,000”. 1983—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 97–449 substituted “Secretary of Transportation” for “Secretary of War” wherever appearing. See

Transfer of Functions

note below. 1982—Pub. L. 97–322 designated existing provisions as subsec. (a), made willfulness an element of the described offenses, and added subsec. (b).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Transfer of Functions

section 6(g)(6)(C) of Pub. L. 89–670 transferred functions, powers, and duties of Secretary of the Army [formerly War] and other offices and officers of Department of the Army [formerly War] under this subchapter to extent that they relate generally to location and clearances of bridges and causeways in navigable waters of United States to Secretary of Transportation. Pub. L. 97–449 amended this section to reflect transfer made by section 6(g)(6)(C) of Pub. L. 89–670, and repealed section 6(g)(6)(C).

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

33 U.S.C. § 533

Title 33 — Navigation and Navigable Waters

Last Updated

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60