Federal · Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal Procedure

18 U.S.C. § 2276: Breaking and entering vessel

Felony

What this law says, in plain English

Federal law criminalizes breaking into vessels on high seas or federal waters with intent to commit a felony, or maliciously damaging vessel moorings. Penalties include fines and up to five years imprisonment.

Read the full statutory text

Whoever, upon the high seas or on any other waters within the admiralty and maritime jurisdiction of the United States, and out of the jurisdiction of any particular State, breaks or enters any vessel with intent to commit any felony, or maliciously cuts, spoils, or destroys any cordage, cable, buoys, buoy rope, head fast, or other fast, fixed to the anchor or moorings belonging to any vessel, 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.