33 U.S.C. § 3852 Civil Enforcement

LibraryUnited States Statutes
Edition2023
CurrencyCurrent through P.L. 118-30 (published on www.congress.gov on 12/21/2023)
Year2023
Citation33 U.S.C. § 3852

(a) Civil penalty

(1) In general

Any person who is found by the Secretary or the Administrator, as appropriate, after notice and an opportunity for a hearing, to have-

(A) violated the Convention, this chapter, or any regulation prescribed under this chapter, is liable to the United States Government for a civil penalty of not more than $37,500 for each violation; or

(B) made a false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or representation in any matter in which a statement or representation is required to be made to the Secretary under the Convention, this chapter, or any regulations prescribed under this chapter, is liable to the United States for a civil penalty of not more than $50,000 for each such statement or representation.

(2) Relationship to other law

This subsection shall not limit or affect the authority of the Government under section 1001 of title 18.

(b) Assessment of penalty

The amount of the civil penalty shall be assessed by the Secretary or Administrator, as appropriate, by written notice.

(c) Limitation for recreational vessel

A civil penalty imposed under subsection (a) against the owner or operator of a recreational vessel, as that term is defined in section 2101 of title 46, for a violation of the Convention, this chapter, or any regulation prescribed under this chapter involving that recreational vessel, may not exceed $5,000 for each violation.

(d) Determination of penalty

For purposes of penalties under this section, each day of a continuing violation constitutes a separate violation. In determining the amount of the penalty, the Secretary or Administrator shall take into account the nature, circumstances, extent, and gravity of the prohibited acts committed and, with respect to the violator, the degree of culpability, any history of prior offenses, the economic impact of the penalty on the violator, the economic benefit to the violator and other matters as justice may require.

(e) Reward

An amount equal to not more than one-half of any civil penalty assessed by the Secretary or Administrator under this section may, subject to the availability of appropriations, be paid by the Secretary or Administrator, respectively, to any person who provided information that led to the assessment or imposition of the penalty.

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