§ 12507. Penalties

• (a) A person shall be fined under title 18, imprisoned for not more than 2 years, or both, if the person with the intent to defraud—
  • (1) provides false information to the Secretary 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 .
• (b) A person is liable to the United States Government for a civil penalty of not more than $10,000 if the person—
  • (1) provides false information to the Secretary or a State issuing authority regarding the identification of a vessel under this chapter;
  • (2) violates section 12502 of this title ; or
  • (3) fails to comply with requirements prescribed by the Secretary under section 12505 of this title .
• (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, not an individual, is involved in a violation of this chapter, the president or chief executive of the person also is subject to any penalty provided under this section.