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Title 49, TransportationRelease 119-110

§46315 Lighting Violations Involving Transporting Controlled Substances by Aircraft Not Providing Air Transportation

Title 49 › SUBTITLE VII — AVIATION PROGRAMS › PART A — AIR COMMERCE AND SAFETY › subpart iv — enforcement and penalties › CHAPTER 463 — PENALTIES › § 46315

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

Makes it a crime to knowingly fly an aircraft not used to provide air transportation while breaking FAA rules about navigation or anti‑collision lights when the flight is tied to serious drug activity. If a person knowingly transports a controlled substance or helps with a drug offense, and that transporting or help is punishable by death or more than one year in prison (or is connected to a drug act punishable by death or more than one year, but not simple possession), the person can be fined under title 18, imprisoned for up to 5 years, or both.

Full Legal Text

Title 49, §46315

Transportation, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Application.—
This section applies only to aircraft not used to provide air transportation.
(b)Criminal Penalty.—
A person shall be fined under title 18, imprisoned for not more than 5 years, or both, if—
(1)the person knowingly and willfully operates an aircraft in violation of a regulation or requirement of the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration related to the display of navigation or anticollision lights;
(2)the person is knowingly transporting a controlled substance by aircraft or aiding or facilitating a controlled substance offense; and
(3)the transporting, aiding, or facilitating—
(A)is punishable by death or imprisonment for more than one year under a law of the United States or a State; or
(B)is provided in connection with an act punishable by death or imprisonment for more than one year under a law of the United States or a State related to a controlled substance (except a law related to simple possession of a controlled substance).

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 46315(a)49 App.:1303 (note).Nov. 18, 1988, Pub. L. 100–690, § 7214, 102 Stat. 4434. 46315(b)49 App.:1472(q).Aug. 23, 1958, Pub. L. 85–726, 72 Stat. 731, § 902(q); added Oct. 19, 1984, Pub. L. 98–499, § 5(a), 98 Stat. 2315; restated Oct. 27, 1986, Pub. L. 99–570, § 3401(b)(1), 100 Stat. 3207–100; Nov. 18, 1988, Pub. L. 100–690, § 7209(c)(1), (2)(A), 102 Stat. 4432. In subsection (b), before clause (1), the words “fined under title 18” are substituted for “a fine not exceeding $25,000” for consistency with title 18. In clause (2), the word “knowingly” is substituted for “and with knowledge of such act” to eliminate unnecessary words.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

49 U.S.C. § 46315

Title 49, Transportation

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110