---
kind: "section"
citation: "49 U.S.C. § 46315"
title: "49"
title_heading: "Transportation"
number: "46315"
heading: "Lighting violations involving transporting controlled substances by aircraft not providing air transportation"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/49/46315"
units:
  - "Subtitle VII — Aviation Programs"
  - "Part A — Air Commerce and Safety"
  - "Subpart iv — enforcement and penalties"
  - "Chapter 463 — Penalties"
---

# §46315. Lighting violations involving transporting controlled substances by aircraft not providing air transportation

- (a) **Application.—** This section applies only to [aircraft](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-6) not used to provide [air transportation](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-5).
- (b) **Criminal Penalty.—** A person shall be fined under [title 18](/usc/18.md), imprisoned for not more than 5 years, or both, if—
  - (1) the person knowingly and willfully operates an [aircraft](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-6) in violation of a regulation or requirement of the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration related to the display of navigation or anticollision lights;
  - (2) the person is knowingly transporting a controlled substance by [aircraft](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-6) or aiding or facilitating a controlled substance offense; and
  - (3) the transporting, aiding, or facilitating—
    - (A) is punishable by death or imprisonment for more than one year under a law of the [United States](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-46) or a State; or
    - (B) is provided in connection with an act punishable by death or imprisonment for more than one year under a law of the [United States](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-46) or a State related to a controlled substance (except a law related to simple possession of a controlled substance).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 103–272, § 1(e), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 1240.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Revised<br>Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| 46315(a) | 49 App.:1303 (note). | Nov. 18, 1988, Pub. L. 100–690, § 7214, 102 Stat. 4434. |
| 46315(b) | 49 App.:1472(q). | Aug. 23, 1958, Pub. L. 85–726, 72 Stat. 731, § 902(q); added Oct. 19, 1984, Pub. L. 98–499, § 5(a), 98 Stat. 2315; restated Oct. 27, 1986, Pub. L. 99–570, § 3401(b)(1), 100 Stat. 3207–100; Nov. 18, 1988, Pub. L. 100–690, § 7209(c)(1), (2)(A), 102 Stat. 4432. |

In subsection (b), before clause (1), the words “fined under title 18” are substituted for “a fine not exceeding $25,000” for consistency with title 18. In clause (2), the word “knowingly” is substituted for “and with knowledge of such act” to eliminate unnecessary words.