Title 46 — ShippingRelease 119-73not60

§70041 Regattas and Marine Parades

Title 46 › Subtitle Subtitle VII— Security and Drug Enforcement › Chapter 700— PORTS AND WATERWAYS SAFETY › Subchapter V— REGATTAS AND MARINE PARADES › § 70041

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

The head of the U.S. Coast Guard can make safety rules for boat races and marine parades on navigable waters. To enforce those rules, the Coast Guard can use its own public boats and private boats offered free. Other federal agencies can help with their public boats when asked. The President can give the Coast Guard’s powers to another federal agency head for special events. If someone breaks the rules, a licensed officer can have their license suspended or revoked. A person navigating a vessel without a license faces a $5,000 fine. An owner on board (including a corporate officer) faces $5,000 unless they didn’t know about the violation. Any other person faces a $2,500 fine. The Coast Guard head can reduce or cancel fines under the usual rules for boating penalties.

Full Legal Text

Title 46, §70041

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(a)The Commandant of the Coast Guard may issue regulations to promote the safety of life on navigable waters during regattas or marine parades.

(b)To enforce regulations issued under this section—

(1)the Commandant may detail any public vessel in the service of the Coast Guard and make use of any private vessel tendered gratuitously for that purpose; and

(2)upon the request of the Commandant, the head of any other Federal department or agency may enforce the regulations by means of any public vessel of such department and any private vessel tendered gratuitously for that purpose.

(c)The authority of the Commandant under this section may be transferred by the President for any special occasion to the head of another Federal department or agency whenever in the President’s judgment such transfer is desirable.

(d)(1)For any violation of regulations issued pursuant to this section the following penalties shall be incurred:

(A)A licensed officer shall be liable to suspension or revocation of license in the manner prescribed by law for incompetency or misconduct.

(B)Any person in charge of the navigation of a vessel other than a licensed officer shall be liable to a penalty of $5,000.

(C)The owner of a vessel (including any corporate officer of a corporation owning the vessel) actually on board shall be liable to a penalty of $5,000, unless the violation of regulations occurred without the owner’s knowledge.

(D)Any other person shall be liable to a penalty of $2,500.

(2)The Commandant may mitigate or remit any penalty provided for in this subsection in the manner prescribed by law for the mitigation or remission of penalties for violation of the navigation laws.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

46 U.S.C. § 70041

Title 46 — Shipping

Last Updated

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60