---
type: "LegalText"
title: "46 U.S.C. § 31309"
description: "General civil penalty"
jurisdiction: "us"
corpus: "united_states_code"
kind: "code_section"
title_number: 46
title_name: "SHIPPING"
chapter_number: "313"
chapter_name: "COMMERCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND MARITIME LIENS"
section: "31309"
citation: "46 U.S.C. § 31309"
status: "current"
release_point: "119-100"
release_date: "2026-06-26"
source: "official"
source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc46@119-100.zip"
source_identifier: "/us/usc/t46/s31309"
source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-46/usc46.xml"
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text_hash: "9b1527d617f5bf9f97d13852ade8a61b8ae681c08ab737520630443bddb72487"
retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
confidence: "official"
tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
---

# 46 U.S.C. § 31309 - General civil penalty

## Text

Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, a person violating this chapter or a regulation prescribed under this chapter is liable to the United States Government for a civil penalty of not more than $10,000.

(Pub. L. 100–710, title I, § 102(c), Nov. 23, 1988, 102 Stat. 4741.)

## Notes

Historical and Revision Notes Revised sectionSource section (U.S. Code) 31309New Section 31309 provides for a civil penalty of not more than $10,000 for a violation of this chapter or a regulation prescribed under this chapter.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective DateSection effective Jan. 1, 1989, with certain exceptions and qualifications, see section 107 of Pub. L. 100–710, set out as a note under section 31301 of this title.