
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
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[Laws in effect as of January 2, 2001]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 2, 2001 and January 28, 2002]
[CITE: 33USC1608]

 
                TITLE 33--NAVIGATION AND NAVIGABLE WATERS
 
 CHAPTER 30--INTERNATIONAL REGULATIONS FOR PREVENTING COLLISIONS AT SEA
 
Sec. 1608. Civil penalties


(a) Liability of vessel operator for violations

    Whoever operates a vessel, subject to the provisions of this 
chapter, in violation of this chapter or of any regulation promulgated 
pursuant to section 1607 of this title, shall be liable to a civil 
penalty of not more than $5,000 for each such violation.

(b) Liability of vessel for violations; seizure of vessel

    Every vessel subject to the provisions of this chapter, other than a 
public vessel being used for noncommercial purposes, which is operated 
in violation of this chapter or of any regulation promulgated pursuant 
to section 1607 of this title, shall be liable to a civil penalty of not 
more than $5,000 for each such violation, for which penalty the vessel 
may be seized and proceeded against in the district court of the United 
States of any district within which such vessel may be found.

(c) Assessment of penalties; notice; opportunity for hearing; remission, 
        mitigation, and compromise of penalty; action for collection

    The Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is 
operating may assess any civil penalty authorized by this section. No 
such penalty may be assessed until the person charged, or the owner of 
the vessel charged, as appropriate, shall have been given notice of the 
violation involved and an opportunity for a hearing. For good cause 
shown, the Secretary may remit, mitigate, or compromise any penalty 
assessed. Upon the failure of the person charged, or the owner of the 
vessel charged, to pay an assessed penalty, as it may have been 
mitigated or compromised, the Secretary may request the Attorney General 
to commence an action in the appropriate district court of the United 
States for collection of the penalty as assessed, without regard to the 
amount involved, together with such other relief as may be appropriate.

(Pub. L. 95-75, Sec. 9, July 27, 1977, 91 Stat. 310; Pub. L. 96-591, 
Sec. 6(3), (4), Dec. 24, 1980, 94 Stat. 3435.)


                               Amendments

    1980--Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 96-591, Sec. 6(3), substituted ``$5,000'' 
for ``$500''.
    Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 96-591, Sec. 6(4), substituted ``not more than 
$5,000'' for ``$500''.
