---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 5202"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "5202"
heading: "Civil penalties"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/5202"
units:
  - "Chapter 72 — Recreational Hunting Safety"
---

# §5202. Civil penalties

- (a) **In general—** A [person](/usc/16/450rr–1.md?p=b) who violates [section 5201 of this title](/usc/16/5201.md) shall be assessed a civil penalty in an amount computed under [subsection (b)](#b).
- (b) **Computation of penalty—** The penalty shall be—
  - (1) not more than $10,000, if the [violation](/usc/16/620e.md?p=11) involved the use of force or violence, or the threatened use of force or violence, against the [person](/usc/16/450rr–1.md?p=b) or property of another [person](/usc/16/450rr–1.md?p=b); and
  - (2) not more than $5,000 for any other [violation](/usc/16/620e.md?p=11).
- (c) **Relationship to other penalties—** The penalties established by this section shall be in [addition](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-2) to other criminal or civil penalties that may be levied against the [person](/usc/16/450rr–1.md?p=b) as a result of an activity in [violation](/usc/16/620e.md?p=11) of [section 5201 of this title](/usc/16/5201.md).
- (d) **Procedure—** Upon receipt of—
  - (1) a written complaint from an officer, employee, or agent of the Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, [National Park](/usc/16/5207.md?p=4) Service, United States [Fish and Wildlife](/usc/16/3102.md?p=17) Service, or other Federal agency that a [person](/usc/16/450rr–1.md?p=b) violated [section 5201 of this title](/usc/16/5201.md); or
  - (2) a sworn affidavit from an individual and a determination by the [Secretary](/usc/16/5207.md?p=6) that the statement contains sufficient factual allegations to create a reasonable belief that a [violation](/usc/16/620e.md?p=11) of [section 5201 of this title](/usc/16/5201.md) has occurred;

  the [Secretary](/usc/16/5207.md?p=6) may request the Attorney General of the United States to institute a civil action for the imposition and collection of the civil penalty under this section.

- (e) **Use of penalty money collected—** After deduction of costs attributable to collection, money collected from penalties shall be—
  - (1) deposited into the [trust](/usc/16/450ss–1.md?p=4) fund established pursuant to the Act entitled “An Act to provide that the United States shall aid the [States](/usc/16/544.md?p=r) in wildlife-restoration [projects](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4), and for other purposes”, approved September 2, 1937 ([16 U.S.C. 669](/usc/16/669.md)) (commonly known as the “Pitman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act”), to support the activities authorized by such Act and undertaken by [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) wildlife management agencies; or
  - (2) used in such other manner as the [Secretary](/usc/16/5207.md?p=6) determines will enhance the funding and implementation of—
    - (A) the North American Waterfowl [Management Plan](/usc/16/544.md?p=k) signed by the [Secretary](/usc/16/5207.md?p=6) of the Interior and the Minister of Environment for Canada in May 1986; or
    - (B) a similar program that the [Secretary](/usc/16/5207.md?p=6) determines will enhance wildlife management—
      - (i) on [Federal lands](/usc/16/5207.md?p=1); or
      - (ii) on private or [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a)-owned lands when the efforts will also provide a benefit to wildlife management objectives on [Federal lands](/usc/16/5207.md?p=1).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXII, § 320803, Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2121.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

The Pitman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act, referred to in subsec. (e)(1), is act Sept. 2, 1937, ch. 899, 50 Stat. 917, also known as the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act, which is classified generally to chapter 5B (§ 669 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 669 of this title and Tables.