33 CFR § 177.08 - Penalties.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t33/s177.08"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "33 CFR § 177.08 - Penalties."
title_number: 33
title_name: "Navigation and Navigable Waters"
section_number: "177.08"
section_name: "Penalties."
chapter_name: "COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY"
subchapter_number: "S"
subchapter_name: "BOATING SAFETY"
part_number: "177"
part_name: "CORRECTION OF ESPECIALLY HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-03-24"
last_updated: "2026-03-24"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "46 U.S.C. 4302, 4308, 4311; Pub. L. 103-206, 107 Stat. 2439."
regulatory_source: "CGD 72-71R, 37 FR 13347, July 7, 1972, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "177"
---


# 177.08 Penalties.

An operator of a vessel who does not follow the directions of a Coast Guard Boarding Officer prescribed in § 177.05 is, in addition to any other penalty prescribed by law, subject to—

(a) The criminal penalties of 46 U.S.C. 4311, which provides that a person willfully operating a recreational vessel in violation of 46 U.S.C., Chapter 43 or regulations issued thereunder, shall be fined not more than $5,000, imprisoned for not more than one year, or both.

(b)(1) The civil penalties for violating 46 U.S.C. 4307(a)(1).

(2) The civil penalties of 46 U.S.C. 4311, which provides that a person violating any other provision of 46 U.S.C., Chapter 43 or regulation issued thereunder is liable to the United States Government for a civil penalty, and, if the violation involves the operation of a vessel, the vessel is liable in rem for the penalty.

[CGD 96-052, 62 FR 16703, Apr. 8, 1997, as amended by USCG-2012-0306, 77 FR 37316, June 21, 2012. Redesignated by USCG-2013-0216, 78 FR 40966, July 9, 2013]