14 USC § 542 - Unauthorized aids to maritime navigation; penalty

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t14/s542"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "14 USC § 542 - Unauthorized aids to maritime navigation; penalty"
title_number: 14
title_name: "COAST GUARD"
section_number: "542"
section_name: "Unauthorized aids to maritime navigation; penalty"
chapter_number: 5
chapter_name: "FUNCTIONS AND POWERS"
subchapter_number: "III"
subchapter_name: "AIDS TO NAVIGATION"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-03-26"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 500, § 83; Pub. L. 93–283, § 1(1), May 14, 1974, 88 Stat. 139; Pub. L. 113–281, title II, § 205(a)(1), Dec. 18, 2014, 128 Stat. 3025; renumbered § 542, Pub. L. 115–282, title I, § 105(b), Dec. 4, 2018, 132 Stat. 4200.)"
---


# § 542. Unauthorized aids to maritime navigation; penalty

No person, or public body, or instrumentality, excluding the armed services, shall establish, erect, or maintain any aid to maritime navigation in or adjacent to the waters subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, its territories or possessions, or the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, or on the high seas if that person, or public body, or instrumentality is subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, without first obtaining authority to do so from the Coast Guard in accordance with applicable regulations. Whoever violates the provisions of this section or any of the regulations issued by the Secretary in accordance herewith shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be fined not more than $1,500 for each offense. Each day during which such violation continues shall be considered as a new offense.

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**Source Credit**: (Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 500, § 83; Pub. L. 93–283, § 1(1), May 14, 1974, 88 Stat. 139; Pub. L. 113–281, title II, § 205(a)(1), Dec. 18, 2014, 128 Stat. 3025; renumbered § 542, Pub. L. 115–282, title I, § 105(b), Dec. 4, 2018, 132 Stat. 4200.)

### Historical and Revision Notes

Based on title 33, U.S.C., 1946 ed., § 759 (, ; , ; , ; 1939 Reorg. Plan No. II, § 2(a), eff. , 4 F.R. 2731, ).

Changes were made in phraseology. 81st Congress, House Report No. 557.

## Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 542 was renumbered .

### Amendments

2018— renumbered  as this section.

2014— substituted “$1,500” for “$100”.

1974— substituted “maritime navigation in or adjacent to the waters subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, its territories or possessions, or the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, or on the high seas if that person, or public body, or instrumentality is subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, without first obtaining authority” for “maritime navigation without first obtaining authority”.

## Executive Documents

### Termination of Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands

For termination of Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, see note set out preceding , Territories and Insular Possessions.