---
kind: "section"
citation: "47 U.S.C. § 386"
title: "47"
title_heading: "Telecommunications"
number: "386"
heading: "Forfeitures"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/47/386"
units:
  - "Chapter 5 — Wire or Radio Communication"
  - "Subchapter III — Special Provisions Relating to Radio"
  - "Part III — Radio Installations on Vessels Carrying Passengers for Hire"
---

# §386. Forfeitures


The following forfeitures shall apply to this part in addition to penalties and forfeitures provided by subchapter V of this chapter:

- (a) Any [vessel](/usc/47/153.md?p=46-A) of the [United States](/usc/47/153.md?p=58) that is navigated in violation of the provisions of this part or of the rules and regulations of the Commission made in pursuance thereof shall forfeit to the [United States](/usc/47/153.md?p=58) the sum of $5,000 recoverable by way of suit or libel. Each day during which such navigation occurs shall constitute a separate offense.
- (b) Every willful failure on the part of the master of a [vessel](/usc/47/153.md?p=46-A) of the [United States](/usc/47/153.md?p=58) to enforce or to comply with the provisions of this part or the rules and regulations of the Commission made in pursuance thereof shall cause him to forfeit to the [United States](/usc/47/153.md?p=58) the sum of $1,000.

## Source credit

(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title III, § 386, as added Aug. 6, 1956, ch. 973, § 1, 70 Stat. 1048; amended Pub. L. 101–239, title III, § 3002(h), Dec. 19, 1989, 103 Stat. 2131; Pub. L. 103–414, title III, § 303(a)(20)(F), Oct. 25, 1994, 108 Stat. 4295.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1994—Pub. L. 103–414 inserted section catchline.

1989—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 101–239, § 3002(h)(1), substituted “$5,000” for “$500”.

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 101–239, § 3002(h)(2), substituted “$1,000” for “$100”.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section effective Mar. 1, 1957, see section 4 of act Aug. 6, 1956, set out as a note under section 381 of this title.