14 USC § 543 - Interference with aids to navigation; penalty

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t14/s543"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "14 USC § 543 - Interference with aids to navigation; penalty"
title_number: 14
title_name: "COAST GUARD"
section_number: "543"
section_name: "Interference with aids to 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, § 84; Pub. L. 113–281, title II, § 205(a)(2), Dec. 18, 2014, 128 Stat. 3025; renumbered § 543 and amended Pub. L. 115–282, title I, §§ 105(b), 123(b)(2), Dec. 4, 2018, 132 Stat. 4200, 4240.)"
---


# § 543. Interference with aids to navigation; penalty

section 541 of this titlesection 542 of this title

It shall be unlawful for any person, or public body, or instrumentality, excluding the armed forces, to remove, change the location of, obstruct, wilfully damage, make fast to, or interfere with any aid to navigation established, installed, operated, or maintained by the Coast Guard pursuant to , or with any aid to navigation lawfully maintained under authority granted by the Coast Guard pursuant to , or to anchor any vessel in any of the navigable waters of the United States so as to obstruct or interfere with range lights maintained therein. Whoever violates the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be fined not more than $1,500 for each offense. Each day during which such violation shall continue shall be considered as a new offense.

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**Source Credit**: (Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 500, § 84; Pub. L. 113–281, title II, § 205(a)(2), Dec. 18, 2014, 128 Stat. 3025; renumbered § 543 and amended Pub. L. 115–282, title I, §§ 105(b), 123(b)(2), Dec. 4, 2018, 132 Stat. 4200, 4240.)

### Historical and Revision Notes

Based on title 33, U.S.C., 1946, ed., §§ 761, 762 (, ; , ; , ; 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 543 was renumbered .

### Amendments

2018—, substituted “section 541” for “section 81” and “section 542” for “section 83”.

, renumbered  as this section.

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