                        TITLE 19--CUSTOMS DUTIES
 
              CHAPTER 3--THE TARIFF AND RELATED PROVISIONS
 
                   SUBTITLE IV--CUSTOMS ADMINISTRATION
 
                        Administrative Provisions
 
                     part 5--enforcement provisions
 
Sec. 507. Officers to make character known; assistance for 
        officers
        
    (a) Every customs officer shall--
        (1) upon being questioned at the time of executing any of the 
    powers conferred upon him, make known his character as an officer of 
    the Federal Government; and
        (2) have the authority to demand the assistance of any person in 
    making any arrest, search, or seizure authorized by any law enforced 
    or administered by customs officers, if such assistance may be 
    necessary.

If a person, without reasonable excuse, neglects or refuses to assist a 
customs officer upon proper demand under paragraph (2), such person is 
guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to a fine of not more than $1,000.
    (b) Any person other than an officer or employee of the United 
States who renders assistance in good faith upon the request of a 
customs officer shall not be held liable for any civil damages as a 
result of the rendering of such assistance if the assisting person acts 
as an ordinary, reasonably prudent person would have acted under the 
same or similar circumstances.

(R.S. Sec. 3071; Pub. L. 99-570, title III, Sec. 3152, Oct. 27, 1986, 
100 Stat. 3207-94.)

                          Codification

    R.S. Sec. 3071 derived from act July 18, 1866, ch. 201, Sec. 10, 14 
Stat. 180.


                               Amendments

    1986--Pub. L. 99-570 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, 
section read as follows: ``Every officer or other person authorized to 
make searches and seizures by this title, shall, at the time of 
executing any of the powers conferred upon him, make known, upon being 
questioned, his character as an officer or agent of the customs or 
Government, and shall have authority to demand of any person within the 
distance of three miles to assist him in making any arrests, search, or 
seizure authorized by this title, where such assistance may be 
necessary; and if such person shall, without reasonable excuse, neglect 
or refuse so to assist, upon proper demand, he shall be deemed guilty of 
a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of not more than $200, nor less than 
$5.''
