Federal · Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal Procedure

18 U.S.C. § 2279: Boarding vessels before arrival

Misdemeanor

What this law says, in plain English

It is illegal to board a vessel before it arrives and is moored at its destination without authorization. Violators may be fined, imprisoned up to six months, or both.

Read the full statutory text

Whoever, not being in the United States service, and not being duly authorized by law for the purpose, goes on board any vessel about to arrive at the place of her destination, before her actual arrival, and before she has been completely moored, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than six months, or both. The master of such vessel may take any such person into custody, and deliver him up forthwith to any law enforcement officer, to be by him taken before any committing magistrate, to be dealt with according to law.

Verify at the official source: Federal legislative text

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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.