---
kind: "section"
citation: "33 U.S.C. § 153"
title: "33"
title_heading: "Navigation and Navigable Waters"
number: "153"
heading: "Penalty for use of unlawful towline"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/33/153"
units:
  - "Chapter 3 — Navigation Rules for Harbors, Rivers, and Inland Waters Generally"
  - "Subchapter I — Preliminary"
---

# §153. Penalty for use of unlawful towline


The master of the towing vessel shall be liable to the suspension or revocation of his license for any willful violation of regulations issued pursuant to [section 152 of this title](/usc/33/152.md) in the manner prescribed for incompetency, misconduct, or unskillfulness.


## Source credit

(May 28, 1908, ch. 212, § 15, 35 Stat. 429.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Codification

Section was not enacted as part of act June 7, 1897, ch. 4, 30 Stat. 96, which comprises a major part of this chapter.