PRIA, Government Policy, Made Personal

Summary

If someone intends to cheat, they can be criminally punished: they can be fined under title 18, put in jail for up to 2 years, or both. That applies if they give false vessel ID information to the Secretary of Transportation or a State issuing authority, or if they tamper with, remove, or fake the vessel’s unique ID number assigned under section 12502. The United States can also charge a civil penalty of up to $10,000 for giving false information, breaking section 12502, or failing to follow rules the Secretary sets under section 12505. A vessel involved in a violation and its equipment may be seized and forfeited to the Government. If the violator is an organization rather than an individual, the organization’s president or chief executive can also face these penalties.

Title 46, §12507

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(a)A person shall be fined under title 18, imprisoned for not more than 2 years, or both, if the person with the intent to defraud—

(1)provides false information to the Secretary of Transportation or a State issuing authority regarding the identification of a vessel under this chapter; or

(2)tampers with, removes, or falsifies the unique vessel identification number assigned to a vessel under section 12502 of this title.

(b)A person is liable to the United States Government for a civil penalty of not more than $10,000 if the person—

(1)provides false information to the Secretary or a State issuing authority regarding the identification of a vessel under this chapter;

(2)violates section 12502 of this title; or

(3)fails to comply with requirements prescribed by the Secretary under section 12505 of this title.

(c)A vessel involved in a violation of this chapter, or regulation under this chapter, and its equipment, may be seized by, and forfeited to, the Government.

(d)If a person, not an individual, is involved in a violation of this chapter, the president or chief executive of the person also is subject to any penalty provided under this section.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised section 12507 This section establishes criminal and civil penalties for certain violations of chapter 125 of title 46 (as enacted by this Act).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Section effective Jan. 1, 1989, with certain exceptions and qualifications, see section 107 of Pub. L. 100–710, set out as a note under section 31301 of this title.

§12507 Penalties