---
kind: "section"
citation: "46 U.S.C. § 31309"
title: "46"
title_heading: "Shipping"
number: "31309"
heading: "General civil penalty"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/46/31309"
units:
  - "Subtitle III — Maritime Liability"
  - "Chapter 313 — Commercial Instruments and Maritime Liens"
  - "Subchapter I — General"
---

# §31309. General civil penalty


Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, a person violating this chapter or a regulation prescribed under this chapter is liable to the United States Government for a civil penalty of not more than $10,000.


## Source credit

(Pub. L. 100–710, title I, § 102(c), Nov. 23, 1988, 102 Stat. 4741.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |
| --- | --- |
| Revised section | Source section (U.S. Code) |
| 31309 | New |

Section 31309 provides for a civil penalty of not more than $10,000 for a violation of this chapter or a regulation prescribed under this chapter.

### 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.