46 USC § 51908 - Prohibition against unauthorized manufacture, sale, possession, or display of awards

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t46/s51908"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "46 USC § 51908 - Prohibition against unauthorized manufacture, sale, possession, or display of awards"
title_number: 46
title_name: "SHIPPING"
section_number: "51908"
section_name: "Prohibition against unauthorized manufacture, sale, possession, or display of awards"
chapter_number: 519
chapter_name: "MERCHANT MARINE AWARDS"
part_number: "B"
part_name: "Merchant Marine Service"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-03-26"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Pub. L. 109–304, § 8(b), Oct. 6, 2006, 120 Stat. 1585; Pub. L. 109–364, div. C, title XXXV, § 3510(b), Oct. 17, 2006, 120 Stat. 2520; Pub. L. 110–181, div. C, title XXXV, § 3526(e), (g), Jan. 28, 2008, 122 Stat. 602.)"
---


# § 51908. Prohibition against unauthorized manufacture, sale, possession, or display of awards

**(a)** **Prohibition.—** Except as authorized by this chapter or the Secretary of Transportation, a person may not manufacture, sell, possess, or display a decoration or medal provided for in this chapter.

**(b)** **Civil Penalty.—** A person violating this section is liable to the United States Government for a civil penalty of not more than $2,000.

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**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 109–304, § 8(b), Oct. 6, 2006, 120 Stat. 1585; Pub. L. 109–364, div. C, title XXXV, § 3510(b), Oct. 17, 2006, 120 Stat. 2520; Pub. L. 110–181, div. C, title XXXV, § 3526(e), (g), Jan. 28, 2008, 122 Stat. 602.)

| RevisedSection | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 51908 | 46 App.:2007. | Pub. L. 100–324, § 8, May 30, 1988, 102 Stat. 577. |

In subsection (b), the words “not more than” are added for clarity and for consistency in the revised title.

## Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2008—, repealed . See 2006 Amendment note below.

Subsec. (a). , incorporated the substance of the amendment by , into this section by substituting “by this chapter or the Secretary of Transportation” for “under this chapter”. See 2006 Amendment note below and , set out as a Legislative Purpose and Construction note preceding .

2006—, which directed the amendment of section 2007 of the former Appendix to this title from which this section was derived, was repealed by . See 2008 Amendment note for subsec. (a) and Historical and Revision notes above.