---
kind: "section"
citation: "19 U.S.C. § 1454"
title: "19"
title_heading: "Customs Duties"
number: "1454"
heading: "Unlading of passengers; penalty"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/19/1454"
units:
  - "Chapter 4 — Tariff Act of 1930"
  - "Subtitle III — Administrative Provisions"
  - "Part II — Report, Entry, and Unlading of Vessels and Vehicles"
---

# §1454. Unlading of passengers; penalty


If any passenger is unladen from any vessel or vehicle without a special license or permit therefor issued by the appropriate customs officer, the master of such vessel or the [person](/usc/19/1683.md?p=8) in charge of such vehicle and every other [person](/usc/19/1683.md?p=8) who knowingly is concerned, or who aids therein, shall each be liable to a penalty of $1,000 for the first passenger and $500 for each additional such passenger so unladen.


## Source credit

(June 17, 1930, ch. 497, title IV, § 454, 46 Stat. 716; Pub. L. 91–271, title III, § 301(b), June 2, 1970, 84 Stat. 287; Pub. L. 99–570, title III, § 3114, Oct. 27, 1986, 100 Stat. 3207–82.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1986—Pub. L. 99–570 substituted “$1,000 for the first passenger and $500 for each additional such passenger” for “$500 for each such passenger”.

1970—Pub. L. 91–271 substituted reference to appropriate customs officer for reference to collector.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 1970 Amendment

For effective date of amendment by Pub. L. 91–271, see section 203 of Pub. L. 91–271, set out as a note under section 1500 of this title.