
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 2, 2001]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 2, 2001 and January 28, 2002]
[CITE: 15USC715f]

 
                      TITLE 15--COMMERCE AND TRADE
 
      CHAPTER 15A--INTERSTATE TRANSPORTATION OF PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
 
Sec. 715f. Forfeiture of contraband oil shipped in violation of 
        law; procedure
        

(a) Seizure procedure; return of contraband oil

    Contraband oil shipped or transported in interstate commerce in 
violation of the provisions of this chapter shall be liable to be 
proceeded against in any district court of the United States within the 
jurisdiction of which the same may be found, and seized for forfeiture 
to the United States by a process of libel for condemnation; but in any 
such case the court may in its discretion, and under such terms and 
conditions as it shall prescribe, order the return of such contraband 
oil to the owner thereof where undue hardship would result from such 
forfeiture. The proceedings in such cases shall conform as nearly as may 
be to proceedings in rem in admiralty, except that either party may 
demand a trial by jury of any issue of fact joined in any such case, and 
all such proceedings shall be at the suit of and in the name of the 
United States. Contraband oil forfeited to the United States as provided 
in this section shall be used or disposed of pursuant to such rules and 
regulations as the President shall prescribe.

(b) Certificates of clearance

    No such forfeiture shall be made in the case of contraband oil owned 
by any person (other than a person shipping such contraband oil in 
violation of the provisions of this chapter) who has with respect to 
such contraband oil a certificate of clearance which on its face appears 
to be valid and to have been issued by a board created under authority 
of section 715d of this title, certifying that the shipment in question 
is not contraband oil, and such person had no reasonable ground for 
believing such certificate to be invalid or to have been issued as a 
result of fraud or misrepresentation of fact.

(Feb. 22, 1935, ch. 18, Sec. 7, 49 Stat. 32.)
