---
kind: "section"
citation: "46 U.S.C. § 12507"
title: "46"
title_heading: "Shipping"
number: "12507"
heading: "Penalties"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/46/12507"
units:
  - "Subtitle II — Vessels and Seamen"
  - "Part H — Identification of Vessels"
  - "Chapter 125 — Vessel Identification System"
---

# §12507. Penalties

- (a) A [person](/usc/46/3701.md?p=3) shall be fined under [title 18](/usc/18.md), imprisoned for not more than 2 years, or both, if the [person](/usc/46/3701.md?p=3) with the intent to defraud—
  - (1) provides false information to the [Secretary](/usc/46/2101.md?p=46) of Transportation or a State issuing authority regarding the identification of a vessel under this chapter; or
  - (2) tampers with, removes, or falsifies the unique vessel identification number assigned to a vessel under [section 12502 of this title](/usc/46/12502.md).
- (b) A [person](/usc/46/3701.md?p=3) is liable to the United States Government for a civil penalty of not more than $10,000 if the [person](/usc/46/3701.md?p=3)—
  - (1) provides false information to the [Secretary](/usc/46/2101.md?p=46) or a State issuing authority regarding the identification of a vessel under this chapter;
  - (2) violates [section 12502 of this title](/usc/46/12502.md); or
  - (3) fails to comply with requirements prescribed by the [Secretary](/usc/46/2101.md?p=46) under [section 12505 of this title](/usc/46/12505.md).
- (c) A vessel involved in a violation of this chapter, or regulation under this chapter, and its equipment, may be seized by, and forfeited to, the Government.
- (d) If a [person](/usc/46/3701.md?p=3), not an individual, is involved in a violation of this chapter, the president or chief executive of the [person](/usc/46/3701.md?p=3) also is subject to any penalty provided under this section.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 100–710, title I, § 101(a), Nov. 23, 1988, 102 Stat. 4737.)

## Notes

### Historical and Revision Notes

Revised section 12507

This section establishes criminal and civil penalties for certain violations of chapter 125 of title 46 (as enacted by this Act).

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section effective Jan. 1, 1989, with certain exceptions and qualifications, see section 107 of Pub. L. 100–710, set out as a note under section 31301 of this title.