46 USC § 12507 - Penalties

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t46/s12507"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "46 USC § 12507 - Penalties"
title_number: 46
title_name: "SHIPPING"
section_number: "12507"
section_name: "Penalties"
chapter_number: 125
chapter_name: "VESSEL IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM"
part_number: "H"
part_name: "Identification of Vessels"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-03-26"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Added Pub. L. 100–710, title I, § 101(a), Nov. 23, 1988, 102 Stat. 4737.)"
---


# § 12507. Penalties

**(a)** A person shall be fined under title 18, imprisoned for not more than 2 years, or both, if the person with the intent to defraud—

**(1)** provides false information to the Secretary of Transportation or a State issuing authority regarding the identification of a vessel under this chapter; or

**(2)** tampers with, removes, or falsifies the unique vessel identification number assigned to a vessel under section 12502 of this title.

**(b)** A person is liable to the United States Government for a civil penalty of not more than $10,000 if the person—

**(1)** provides false information to the Secretary or a State issuing authority regarding the identification of a vessel under this chapter;

**(2)** violates section 12502 of this title; or

**(3)** fails to comply with requirements prescribed by the Secretary under section 12505 of this title.

**(c)** A vessel involved in a violation of this chapter, or regulation under this chapter, and its equipment, may be seized by, and forfeited to, the Government.

**(d)** If a person, not an individual, is involved in a violation of this chapter, the president or chief executive of the person also is subject to any penalty provided under this section.

---

**Source Credit**: (Added Pub. L. 100–710, title I, § 101(a), Nov. 23, 1988, 102 Stat. 4737.)

### Historical and Revision Notes

This section establishes criminal and civil penalties for certain violations of chapter 125 of title 46 (as enacted by this Act).

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section effective , with certain exceptions and qualifications, see , set out as a note under .