
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 23, 2000 and December 4, 2001]
[CITE: 46USC8503]

 
                           TITLE 46--SHIPPING
 
                     Subtitle II--Vessels and Seamen
 
                       Part F--Manning of Vessels
 
                           CHAPTER 85--PILOTS
 
Sec. 8503. Federal pilots authorized

    (a) The Secretary may require a pilot licensed under section 7101 of 
this title on a self-propelled vessel when a pilot is not required by 
State law and the vessel is--
        (1) engaged in foreign commerce; and
        (2) operating--
            (A) in internal waters of the United States; or
            (B) within 3 nautical miles from the baselines from which 
        the territorial sea of the United States is measured.

    (b) A requirement prescribed under subsection (a) of this section is 
terminated when the State having jurisdiction over the area involved--
        (1) establishes a requirement for a State licensed pilot; and
        (2) notifies the Secretary of that fact.

    (c) For the Saint Lawrence Seaway, the Secretary may not delegate 
the authority under this section to an agency except the Saint Lawrence 
Seaway Development Corporation.
    (d) A person violating this section or a regulation prescribed under 
this section is liable to the United States Government for a civil 
penalty of not more than $25,000. Each day of a continuing violation is 
a separate violation. The vessel also is liable in rem for the penalty.
    (e) A person that knowingly violates this section or a regulation 
prescribed under this section commits a class D felony.

(Added Pub. L. 98-557, Sec. 29(f)(3)(A), Oct. 30, 1984, 98 Stat. 2874; 
amended Pub. L. 101-380, title IV, Sec. 4302(h), Aug. 18, 1990, 104 
Stat. 539; Pub. L. 105-383, title III, Sec. 301(b)(8), Nov. 13, 1998, 
112 Stat. 3417.)


                               Amendments

    1998--Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 105-383 added par. (2) and struck out 
former par. (2) which read as follows: ``operating on the navigable 
waters of the United States.''
    1990--Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 101-380 substituted ``commits a class D 
felony'' for ``shall be fined not more than $50,000, imprisoned for not 
more than five years, or both''.


                    Effective Date of 1990 Amendment

    Amendment by Pub. L. 101-380 applicable to incidents occurring after 
Aug. 18, 1990, see section 1020 of Pub. L. 101-380, set out as an 
Effective Date note under section 2701 of Title 33, Navigation and 
Navigable Waters.
