                        TITLE 19--CUSTOMS DUTIES
 
                      CHAPTER 4--TARIFF ACT OF 1930
 
                 SUBTITLE III--ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS
 
      Part II--Report, Entry, and Unlading of Vessels and Vehicles
 
Sec. 1438. Unlawful return of foreign vessel's papers

    It shall not be lawful for any foreign consul to deliver to the 
master of any foreign vessel the register, or document in lieu thereof, 
deposited with him in accordance with the provisions of section 1434 of 
this title, or regulations issued thereunder, until such master shall 
produce to him a clearance in due form from the Customs Service in the 
port in which such vessel has entered. Any consul offending against the 
provisions of this section shall be liable to a fine of not more than 
$5,000.

(June 17, 1930, ch. 497, title IV, Sec. 438, 46 Stat. 712; Pub. L. 91-
271, title III, Sec. 301(b), June 2, 1970, 84 Stat. 287; Pub. L. 103-
182, title VI, Sec. 654, Dec. 8, 1993, 107 Stat. 2210.)


                            Prior Provisions

    Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in act 
Sept. 21, 1922, ch. 356, title IV, Sec. 438, 42 Stat. 952. That section 
was superseded by section 438 of act June 17, 1930, comprising this 
section, and repealed by section 651(a)(1) of the 1930 act.


                               Amendments

    1993--Pub. L. 103-182 substituted ``section 1434'' for ``section 
1435'', inserted ``, or regulations issued thereunder,'' before ``until 
such master'', and substituted ``the Customs Service in the port in 
which such vessel has entered'' for ``the appropriate customs officer of 
the port where such vessel has been entered''.
    1970--Pub. L. 91-271 substituted reference to appropriate customs 
officers for reference to collector.


                    Effective Date of 1970 Amendment

    For effective date of amendment by Pub. L. 91-271, see section 203 
of Pub. L. 91-271, set out as a note under section 1500 of this title.
