Federal · Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal Procedure

18 U.S.C. § 2152: Fortifications, harbor defenses, or defensive sea areas

Felony

What this law says, in plain English

Federal law prohibits willfully trespassing on, damaging, or interfering with U.S. military fortifications, harbor defenses, submarine mines, or torpedoes, or violating presidential orders governing defensive sea areas. Violations are punishable by fine and/or imprisonment up to five years.

Read the full statutory text

Whoever willfully trespasses upon, injures, or destroys any of the works or property or material of any submarine mine or torpedo or fortification or harbor-defense system owned or constructed or in process of construction by the United States; or Whoever willfully interferes with the operation or use of any such submarine mine, torpedo, fortification, or harbor-defense system; or Whoever knowingly, willfully, or wantonly violates any duly authorized and promulgated order or regulation of the President governing persons or vessels within the limits of defensive sea areas, which the President, for purposes of national defense, may from time to time establish by executive order— Shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.

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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.