18 USC § 1859 - Surveys interrupted

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t18/s1859"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "18 USC § 1859 - Surveys interrupted"
title_number: 18
title_name: "CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE"
section_number: "1859"
section_name: "Surveys interrupted"
chapter_number: 91
chapter_name: "PUBLIC LANDS"
part_number: "I"
part_name: "CRIMES"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-21"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 789; May 24, 1949, ch. 139, § 42, 63 Stat. 95; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(J), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147.)"
---


# § 1859. Surveys interrupted

Whoever, by threats or force, interrupts, hinders, or prevents the surveying of the public lands, or of any private land claim which has been or may be confirmed by the United States, by the persons authorized to survey the same in conformity with the instructions of the Director of the Bureau of Land Management, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than three years, or both.

---

**Source Credit**: (June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 789; May 24, 1949, ch. 139, § 42, 63 Stat. 95; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(J), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147.)

### Historical and Revision Notes

### 1948 Act

Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 112 (, ).

Mandatory punishment provision was rephrased in the alternative.

Minor changes were made in phraseology.

### 1949 Act

This section [section 42] substitutes, in , U.S.C., “Director of the Bureau of Land Management” for “Commissioner of the General Land Office,” in view of the abolishment of the General Land Office, and the office of Commissioner thereof, by 1946 Reorganization Plan No. 3, § 403, effective  (11 F.R. 7876). Such plan consolidated the functions of the General Land Office and of the Grazing Service to form a new agency, the Bureau of Land Management, in the Department of the Interior and headed by a Director.

## Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1994— substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $3,000”.

1949—Act , substituted “Director of the Bureau of Land Management” for “Commissioner of the General Land Office”.