§ 639. — Penalty for unauthorized use of words "Coast Guard".
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 14USC639]
TITLE 14--COAST GUARD
PART I--REGULAR COAST GUARD
CHAPTER 17--ADMINISTRATION
Sec. 639. Penalty for unauthorized use of words ``Coast Guard''
No individual, association, partnership, or corporation shall,
without authority of the Commandant, use the combination of letters
``USCG'' or ``USCGR'', the words ``Coast Guard,'' ``United States Coast
Guard,'' ``Coast Guard Reserve,'' ``United States Coast Guard Reserve,''
``Coast Guard Auxiliary,'' ``United States Coast Guard Auxiliary,''
``Lighthouse Service,'' ``Life Saving Service,'' or any combination or
variation of such letters or words alone or with other letters or words,
as the name under which he or it shall do business, for the purpose of
trade, or by way of advertisement to induce the effect of leading the
public to believe that any such individual, association, partnership, or
corporation has any connection with the Coast Guard. No individual,
association, partnership, or corporation shall falsely advertise, or
otherwise represent falsely by any device whatsoever, that any project
or business in which he or it is engaged, or product which he or it
manufactures, deals in, or sells, has been in any way endorsed,
authorized, or approved by the Coast Guard. Every person violating this
section shall be fined not more than $1,000, or imprisoned not more than
one year, or both.
(Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 63 Stat. 546; Aug. 3, 1950, ch. 536, Sec. 30, 64
Stat. 408.)
Historical and Revision Notes
This section makes the unauthorized use of the words ``Coast Guard''
or any derivative thereof, a crime. This is believed to be a desirable
prohibition in view of the many commercial organizations which are
manufacturing equipment approved by the Coast Guard and selling same to
vessels in the United States. 81st Congress, House Report No. 557.
Amendments
1950--Act Aug. 3, 1950, made it possible for Commandant to grant
authority to private business organizations to use terms or designations
otherwise prohibited by this section.
Coast Guard City, USA
Pub. L. 105-383, title IV, Sec. 409, Nov. 13, 1998, 112 Stat. 3431,
provided that: ``The Commandant of the Coast Guard may recognize the
community of Grand Haven, Michigan, as `Coast Guard City, USA'. If the
Commandant desires to recognize any other community in the same manner
or any other community requests such recognition from the Coast Guard,
the Commandant shall notify the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure of the House of Representatives 90 days prior to
approving such recognition.''
