Title 47, Telegraphs, Telephones, and RadiotelegraphsRelease 119-102

§386 Forfeitures

Title 47 › CHAPTER 5 — WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION › SUBCHAPTER III — SPECIAL PROVISIONS RELATING TO RADIO › Part III — Radio Installations on Vessels Carrying Passengers for Hire › § 386

Last updated Aug 21, 2026|Official source

Summary

A U.S. vessel that sails in violation of these rules must pay a $5,000 penalty to the United States. The government can collect that money by suing, and each day the vessel breaks the rules counts as a separate offense. If the vessel’s master on purpose fails to enforce or follow the rules, the master must pay $1,000 to the United States.

Full Legal Text

Title 47, §386

Telegraphs, Telephones, and Radiotelegraphs, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

The following forfeitures shall apply to this part in addition to penalties and forfeitures provided by subchapter V of this chapter:

(a)Any vessel of the United States that is navigated in violation of the provisions of this part or of the rules and regulations of the Commission made in pursuance thereof shall forfeit to the United States the sum of $5,000 recoverable by way of suit or libel. Each day during which such navigation occurs shall constitute a separate offense.

(b)Every willful failure on the part of the master of a vessel of the United States to enforce or to comply with the provisions of this part or the rules and regulations of the Commission made in pursuance thereof shall cause him to forfeit to the United States the sum of $1,000.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1994—Pub. L. 103–414 inserted section catchline. 1989—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 101–239, § 3002(h)(1), substituted “$5,000” for “$500”. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 101–239, § 3002(h)(2), substituted “$1,000” for “$100”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Section effective Mar. 1, 1957, see section 4 of act Aug. 6, 1956, set out as a note under section 381 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

47 U.S.C. § 386

Title 47, Telegraphs, Telephones, and Radiotelegraphs

Last Updated

Aug 21, 2026

Release point: 119-102