---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 670j"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "670j"
heading: "Enforcement provisions"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/670j"
units:
  - "Chapter 5C — Conservation Programs on Government Lands"
  - "Subchapter II — Conservation Programs on Public Lands"
---

# §670j. Enforcement provisions

- (a) **Violations and penalties—**
  - (1) Any [person](/usc/16/450rr–1.md?p=b) who hunts, traps, or fishes on any [public land](/usc/16/670k.md?p=4) which is subject to a conservation and rehabilitation program implemented under this subchapter without having on his [person](/usc/16/450rr–1.md?p=b) a valid [public land](/usc/16/670k.md?p=4) management [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) stamp, if the possession of such a stamp is required, shall be fined not more than $1,000, or imprisoned for not more than six months, or both.
  - (2) Any [person](/usc/16/450rr–1.md?p=b) who knowingly violates or fails to comply with any regulations prescribed under [section 670h(c)(5) of this title](/usc/16/670h.md?p=c-5) shall be fined not more than $500, or imprisoned not more than six months, or both.
- (b) **Enforcement powers and proceedings—**
  - (1) For the purpose of enforcing [subsection (a)](#a) of this section, the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) of the Interior and the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) of Agriculture may designate any employee of their respective departments, and any [State](/usc/16/670.md?p=2) officer or employee authorized under a cooperative agreement to enforce such subsection [(a)](#a), to (i) carry firearms; (ii) execute and serve any warrant or other process issued by a court or officer of competent jurisdiction; (iii) make arrests without warrant or process for a misdemeanor he has reasonable grounds to believe is being committed in his presence or view; (iv) search without warrant or process any [person](/usc/16/450rr–1.md?p=b), place, or conveyance as provided by law; and (v) seize without warrant or process any evidentiary item as provided by law.
  - (2) Upon the sworn information by a competent [person](/usc/16/450rr–1.md?p=b), any [United States](/usc/16/670.md?p=5) magistrate judge or court of competent jurisdiction may issue process for the arrest of any [person](/usc/16/450rr–1.md?p=b) charged with committing any offense under [subsection (a)](#a) of this section.
  - (3) Any [person](/usc/16/450rr–1.md?p=b) charged with committing any offense under [subsection (a)](#a) of this section may be tried and sentenced by any [United States](/usc/16/670.md?p=5) magistrate judge designated for that purpose by the court by which he was appointed, in the same manner and subject to the same conditions as provided for in [section 3401 of title 18](/usc/18/3401.md).
- (c) **Seizure and forfeiture—** All guns, traps, nets, and other equipment, vessels, vehicles, and other means of transportation used by any [person](/usc/16/450rr–1.md?p=b) when engaged in committing an offense under [subsection (a)](#a) of this section shall be subject to forfeiture to the [United States](/usc/16/670.md?p=5) and may be seized and held pending the prosecution of any [person](/usc/16/450rr–1.md?p=b) arrested for committing such offense. Upon conviction for such offense, such forfeiture may be adjudicated as a penalty in [addition](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-2) to any other provided for committing such offense.
- (d) **Applicability of customs laws—** All provisions of law relating to the seizure, forfeiture, and condemnation of a vessel for [violation](/usc/16/620e.md?p=11) of the customs laws, the disposition of such vessel or the proceeds from the sale thereof, and the remission or mitigation of such forfeitures, shall apply to the seizures and forfeitures incurred, or alleged to have been incurred, under the provisions of this section, insofar as such provisions of law are applicable and not inconsistent with the provisions of this section; except that all powers, rights, and duties conferred or imposed by the customs laws upon any officer or employee of the Department of the Treasury shall, for the purposes of this section, be exercised or performed by the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) of the Interior or the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) of Agriculture, as the case may be, or by such [persons](/usc/16/450rr–1.md?p=b) as he may designate.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 86–797, title II, § 204, as added Pub. L. 93–452, § 2, Oct. 18, 1974, 88 Stat. 1372; amended Pub. L. 112–81, div. A, title III, § 312(b)(10), (c), Dec. 31, 2011, 125 Stat. 1354, 1355.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2011—Pub. L. 112–81, § 312(b)(10), inserted section catchline and headings for subsecs. (a) to (d).

Subsec. (b)(2), (3). Pub. L. 112–81, § 312(c), substituted “magistrate judge” for “magistrate”.