---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 5420"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "5420"
heading: "Failure to report violations; penalties"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/5420"
units:
  - "Chapter 70 — Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards"
---

# §5420. Failure to report violations; penalties


Any person, other than an officer or employee of the United States, or a person exercising inspection functions under a [State](/usc/42/5402.md?p=12) plan pursuant to [section 5422 of this title](/usc/42/5422.md), who knowingly and willfully fails to report a [violation](/usc/42/2000e–16a.md?p=c) of any [construction](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=7) or safety standard established under [section 5403 of this title](/usc/42/5403.md) may be fined up to $1,000 or imprisoned for up to one year, or both.


## Source credit

(Pub. L. 93–383, title VI, § 621, Aug. 22, 1974, 88 Stat. 712.)

## Notes

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section effective upon the expiration of 180 days following Aug. 22, 1974, see section 627 of Pub. L. 93–383, set out as a note under section 5401 of this title.