Federal · Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal Procedure

18 U.S.C. § 1852: Timber removed or transported

Misdemeanor

What this law says, in plain English

Federal law prohibits cutting, destroying, or removing timber from U.S. public lands, or knowingly transporting such timber. Violations are punishable by fine and/or imprisonment up to one year.

Read the full statutory text
Whoever cuts, or wantonly destroys any timber growing on the public lands of the United States; or Whoever removes any timber from said public lands, with intent to export or to dispose of the same; or Whoever, being the owner, master, pilot, operator, or consignee of any vessel, motor vehicle, or aircraft or the owner, director, or agent of any railroad, knowingly transports any timber so cut or removed from said lands, or lumber manufactured therefrom— Shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both. This section shall not prevent any miner or agriculturist from clearing his land in the ordinary working of his mining claim, or in the preparation of his farm for tillage, or from taking the timber necessary to support his improvements, or the taking of timber for the use of the United States; nor shall it interfere with or take away any right or privilege under any existing law of the United States to cut or remove timber from any public lands.

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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.