---
kind: "section"
citation: "46 U.S.C. § 6306"
title: "46"
title_heading: "Shipping"
number: "6306"
heading: "Penalty"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/46/6306"
units:
  - "Subtitle II — Vessels and Seamen"
  - "Part D — Marine Casualties"
  - "Chapter 63 — Investigating Marine Casualties"
---

# §6306. Penalty


A [person](/usc/46/3701.md?p=3) attempting to coerce a witness, or to induce a witness, to testify falsely in connection with a marine casualty, or to induce a witness to leave the jurisdiction of the United States, shall be fined $5,000, imprisoned for one year, or both.


## Source credit

(Pub. L. 98–89, Aug. 26, 1983, 97 Stat. 538.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |
| --- | --- |
| Revised section | Source section (U.S. Code) |
| 6306 | 46:239(i) |

Section 6306 provides for a $5,000 criminal penalty for anyone attempting to coerce or to induce a witness to a marine casualty investigation to testify falsely or to leave the jurisdiction of the United States.