74 LAWS GOVERNING MARINE INSPECTION 



Violations generally; penalties 



46 U.S.C. 527e 



(a) Whoever being the owner of a vessel required to be numbered 

 under this subchapter, violates section 527a or 527b of this title, or 

 regulations established by the Secretary under section 527d of this 

 title, shall be liable to a penalty of $50 for each violation. Whoever 

 operates a vessel in violation of section 527a of this title, or regula- 

 tions established by the Secretary under section 527d of this title, shall 

 be liable to a penalty of $50 for each violation. 



(b) The Secretary may assess and collect any penalty incurred 

 under this subchapter or any regulations prescribed pursuant to section 

 527d of this title. The Secretary may, in his discretion, remit or miti- 

 gate any penalty imposed under this section, or discontinue prosecution 

 therefor on such terms as he may deem proper. 



(c) Commissioned, warrant, and petty officers of the Coast Guard 

 may board any vessel required to be numbered under this subchapter 

 at any time such vessel is found upon the navigable waters of the 

 United States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, 

 Guam and the District of Columbia, or on the high seas, address 

 inquiries to those on board, require appropriate proof of identification 

 therefrom, examine the certificate of number issued under this sub- 

 chapter, or in the absence of such certificate require appropriate proof 

 of identification of the owner of the vessel, and, in addition, examine 

 such vessel for compliance with this svibchapter,^ subchapter II of 

 this chapter, and the applicable rules of the road. 



Declaration of policy 



46 U.S.C. 527f 



It is declared to be the policy of Congress to encourage uniformity 

 of boating laws, rules, and regulations as among the several States 

 and the Federal Government to the fullest extent practicable, subject 

 to reasonable exceptions arising out of local conditions. In the inter- 

 est of fostering the development, use, and enjoyment of all the waters 

 of the United States it is further declared to he the policy of the Con- 

 gress hereby to encourage the higliest degree of reciprocity and comity 

 among the several jurisdictions. The Secretary, acting under the 

 authority of section 141 of title 14 shall to the greatest possible extent 

 enter into agreements and other arrangements with the States to insure 

 that there shall be the fullest possible cooperation in the enforcement 

 of both State and Federal statutes, rules, and regulations relating to 

 recreational boating. 



Publication of findings; public inspection 



46 U.S.C. 527g 



The Secretary is authorized and directed to compile, analyze, and 

 publish, either in summary or detailed form, the information ob- 

 tained by him from the accident reports transmitted to him under 

 section 527a (c) (6), and under section 526/ (c) of this title, together 



1 In the original act these references were to the Federal Boating Act of 1958, the 

 Motorboat Act of 1940, as amended, and the applicable rules of the road. 



