§507. Ship's papers

Whoever falsely makes, forges, counterfeits, or alters any instrument in limitation of or purporting to be, an abstract or official copy or certificate of the recording, registry, or enrollment of any vessel, in the office of any collector of the customs, or a license to any vessel for carrying on the coasting trade or fisheries of the United States, or a certificate of ownership, pass, or clearance, granted for any vessel, under the authority of the United States, or a permit, debenture, or other official document granted by any collector or other officer of the customs by virtue of his office; or

Whoever utters, publishes, or passes, or attempts to utter, publish, or pass, as true, any such false, forged, counterfeited, or falsely altered instrument, abstract, official copy, certificate, license, pass, clearance, permit, debenture, or other official document herein specified, knowing the same to be false, forged, counterfeited, or falsely altered, with an intent to defraud-

Shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than three years, or both.

(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 714 ; Sept. 13, 1994, Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, §330016(1)(H), 108 Stat. 2147 .)

Historical and Revision Notes

Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., §129 (Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 321, §72, 35 Stat. 1101 ).

The words "passport" and "sea letter" were omitted as obsolete, in view of the Presidential proclamation of April 10, 1815, discontinuing the use of such passports and sea letters.

Mandatory punishment provisions were rephrased in the alternative.

Minor changes of phraseology were made.

Amendments

1994-Pub. L. 103–322 substituted "fined under this title" for "fined not more than $1,000".

Transfer of Functions

All offices of collector of customs, comptroller of customs, surveyor of customs, and appraiser of merchandise in Bureau of Customs of Department of the Treasury to which appointments were required to be made by President with advice and consent of Senate ordered abolished, with such offices to be terminated not later than Dec. 31, 1966, by Reorg. Plan No. 1 of 1965, eff. May 25, 1965, 30 F.R. 7035, 79 Stat. 1317, set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees. All functions of offices eliminated were already vested in Secretary of the Treasury by Reorg. Plan No. 26 of 1950, eff. July 31, 1950, 15 F.R. 4935, 64 Stat. 1280, set out in the Appendix to Title 5.

Canal Zone

Applicability of section to Canal Zone, see section 14 of this title.

Cross References

Certificate, license or document issued to vessels, officers or seamen, counterfeiting or forging, see section 2197 of this title.

Provisions relating to recording, registry, or enrollment of vessels, etc., see section 12101 et seq. of Title 46, Shipping.

Definition of registry and license with respect to vessel documentation, see section 12101 of Title 46.

Section Referred to in Other Sections

This section is referred to in section 14 of this title.