
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
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[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 23, 2000 and December 4, 2001]
[CITE: 46USC12309]

 
                           TITLE 46--SHIPPING
 
                     Subtitle II--Vessels and Seamen
 
                    Part H--Identification of Vessels
 
               CHAPTER 123--NUMBERING UNDOCUMENTED VESSELS
 
Sec. 12309. Penalties

    (a) A person willfully violating this chapter or a regulation 
prescribed under this chapter shall be fined not more than $5,000, 
imprisoned for not more than one year, or both.
    (b) A person violating this chapter or a regulation prescribed under 
this chapter is liable to the United States Government for a civil 
penalty of not more than $1,000. If the violation involves the operation 
of a vessel, the vessel also is liable in rem for the penalty.
    (c) When a civil penalty of not more than $200 has been assessed 
under this chapter, the Secretary may refer the matter of collection of 
the penalty directly to the United States magistrate of the jurisdiction 
in which the person liable may be found for collection procedures under 
supervision of the district court and under an order issued by the court 
delegating this authority under section 636(b) of title 28.

(Pub. L. 98-89, Aug. 26, 1983, 97 Stat. 592.)

                      Historical and Revision Notes
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          Revised section                Source section (U.S. Code)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
12309(a)..........................  46:1483
12309(b)..........................  46:1484(b)
12309(c)..........................  46:1484(d)
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Section 12309 provides for civil and criminal penalties for 
violation of the vessel numbering provisions in this title.

                         Change of Name

    Reference to United States magistrate or to magistrate deemed to 
refer to United States magistrate judge pursuant to section 321 of Pub. 
L. 101-650, set out as a note under section 631 of Title 28, Judiciary 
and Judicial Procedure.
