§ 2197. — Misuse of Federal certificate, license or document.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 18USC2197]
TITLE 18--CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
PART I--CRIMES
CHAPTER 107--SEAMEN AND STOWAWAYS
Sec. 2197. Misuse of Federal certificate, license or document
Whoever, not being lawfully entitled thereto, uses, exhibits, or
attempts to use or exhibit, or, with intent unlawfully to use the same,
receives or possesses any certificate, license, or document issued to
vessels, or officers or seamen by any officer or employee of the United
States authorized by law to issue the same; or
Whoever, without authority, alters or attempts to alter any such
certificate, license, or document by addition, interpolation, deletion,
or erasure; or
Whoever forges, counterfeits, or steals, or attempts to forge,
counterfeit, or steal, any such certificate, license, or document; or
unlawfully possesses or knowingly uses any such altered, changed,
forged, counterfeit, or stolen certificate, license, or document; or
Whoever, without authority, prints or manufactures any blank form of
such certificate, license, or document, or
Whoever possesses without lawful excuse, and with intent unlawfully
to use the same, any blank form of such certificate, license, or
document; or
Whoever, in any manner, transfers or negotiates such transfer of,
any blank form of such certificate, license, or document, or any such
altered, forged, counterfeit, or stolen certificate, license, or
document, or any such certificate, license, or document to which the
party transferring or receiving the same is not lawfully entitled--
Shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five
years, or both.
(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 801; Pub. L. 103-322, title XXXIII,
Sec. 330016(1)(K), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147.)
Historical and Revision Notes
Based on section 710a of title 46, U.S.C., 1940 ed., Shipping (June
25, 1936, ch. 816, Sec. 6, 49 Stat. 1936).
The phrase ``the Bureau of Marine Inspection and Navigation,''
identifying the agency issuing the certificate, license or document, was
omitted without change of substance. The functions of the Bureau of
Marine Inspection and Navigation were transferred to the Bureau of
Customs and the Coast Guard by Executive Order 9083 Feb. 28, 1942, title
50, App. U.S.C., 1940 ed., following Sec. 601. Such transfer is
temporary under section 621 of title 50, App., U.S.C., 1940 ed. (First
War Powers Act).
As revised the section is broad enough to embrace certificates,
licenses and documents issued by the officers or employees of the Coast
Guard and Customs Service, as the case may be.
Reference to persons causing, procuring, aiding or abetting was
omitted as such persons are principals under section 2 of this title.
Words ``upon conviction thereof'' were omitted as unnecessary, since
punishment cannot be imposed until a conviction is secured.
Changes were made in phraseology and arrangement.
Amendments
1994--Pub. L. 103-322 substituted ``fined under this title'' for
``fined not more than $5,000'' in last par.
