---
kind: "section"
citation: "33 U.S.C. § 2609"
title: "33"
title_heading: "Navigation and Navigable Waters"
number: "2609"
heading: "Penalties"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/33/2609"
units:
  - "Chapter 39 — Shore Protection from Municipal or Commercial Waste"
  - "Subchapter I — Shore Protection"
---

# §2609. Penalties

- (a) **General penalty—** Except as provided in [subsection (b)](#b) of this section, a [person](/usc/33/2601.md?p=4) violating this chapter is liable to the United States Government for a civil penalty of not more than $25,000. Each day of a continuing violation is a separate violation. A vessel involved in the violation also is liable in rem for the penalty.
- (b) **Operating without a permit—** A [person](/usc/33/2601.md?p=4) violating [section 2602 of this title](/usc/33/2602.md) is liable to the United States Government for a civil penalty of not more than $10,000. Each day of a continuing violation is a separate violation. A vessel involved in the violation also is liable in rem for the penalty.
- (c) **Criminal penalty—** Any [person](/usc/33/2601.md?p=4) that knowingly violates, or that knowingly aids, abets, authorizes, or instigates a violation of this chapter, shall be fined under [title 18](/usc/18.md), imprisoned for not more than 3 years, or both.
- (d) **Payments for information—** The court, the [Secretary](/usc/33/426h–1.md?p=2) of Transportation, or the [Administrator](/usc/33/2601.md?p=1), as the case may be, may pay up to one-half of a fine or penalty to any [person](/usc/33/2601.md?p=4) giving information leading to the assessment of the fine or penalty.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 100–688, title IV, § 4109, Nov. 18, 1988, 102 Stat. 4158.)