Title 46, ShippingRelease 119-110

§70504 Jurisdiction and Venue

Title 46 › Subtitle VII — Security and Drug Enforcement › CHAPTER 705 — MARITIME DRUG LAW ENFORCEMENT › § 70504

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

U.S. authority over a vessel is not part of the offense, and only the judge decides jurisdiction. A person who violates sections 70503 or 70508 must be tried where the offense happened, or if it began on the high seas or outside any state, in any district.

Full Legal Text

Title 46, §70504

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(a)Jurisdiction.—

Jurisdiction of the United States with respect to a vessel subject to this chapter is not an element of an offense. Jurisdictional issues arising under this chapter are preliminary questions of law to be determined solely by the trial judge.

(b)Venue.—

A person violating section 70503 or 70508—

(1)shall be tried in the district in which such offense was committed; or

(2)if the offense was begun or committed upon the high seas, or elsewhere outside the jurisdiction of any particular State or district, may be tried in any district.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 7050446 App.:1903(f).Pub. L. 96–350, § 3(f), Sept. 15, 1980, 94 Stat. 1160; Pub. L. 99–570, title III, § 3202, Oct. 27, 1986, 100 Stat. 3207–97; Pub. L. 99–640, § 17, Nov. 10, 1986, 100 Stat. 3554; Pub. L. 104–324, § 1138(a)(5), Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3989.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2017—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 115–91 amended subsec. (b) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (b) read as follows: “(b) Venue.—A person violating section 70503 or 70508 of this title shall be tried in the district court of the United States for— “(1) the district at which the person enters the United States; or “(2) the District of Columbia.” 2008—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 110–407 inserted “or 70508” after “70503” in introductory provisions.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

46 U.S.C. § 70504

Title 46, Shipping

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110