Federal · Title 14 — Coast Guard

14 U.S.C. § 543: Interference with aids to navigation; penalty

Misdemeanor

What this law says, in plain English

It is illegal to remove, damage, obstruct, or interfere with navigation aids maintained by the Coast Guard, or to anchor vessels to obstruct range lights. Violations are misdemeanors punishable by fines up to $1,500 per offense.

Read the full statutory text

It shall be unlawful for any person, or public body, or instrumentality, excluding the armed forces, to remove, change the location of, obstruct, wilfully damage, make fast to, or interfere with any aid to navigation established, installed, operated, or maintained by the Coast Guard pursuant to section 541 of this title , or with any aid to navigation lawfully maintained under authority granted by the Coast Guard pursuant to section 542 of this title , or to anchor any vessel in any of the navigable waters of the United States so as to obstruct or interfere with range lights maintained therein. Whoever violates the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be fined not more than $1,500 for each offense. Each day during which such violation shall continue shall be considered as a new offense.

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This page is legal information, not legal advice. Code text is sourced from official publications and may lag amendments — always confirm at the official source linked above. Plain-English summaries and relationship data are AI-derived and reviewed on an ongoing basis; verify with a licensed attorney before acting.