§ 967. Departure of vessel forbidden in aid of neutrality

Statutory text

During a war in which the United States is a neutral nation, the President, or any person authorized by him, may withhold clearance from or to any vessel, domestic or foreign, or, by service of formal notice upon the owner, master, or person in command or in charge of any domestic vessel not required to secure clearances, may forbid its departure from port or from the United States, whenever there is reasonable cause to believe that such vessel is about to carry fuel, arms, ammunition, men, supplies, dispatches, or information to any warship, tender, or supply ship of a foreign belligerent nation in violation of the laws, treaties, or obligations of the United States under the law of nations. It shall thereupon be unlawful for such vessel to depart.

Whoever, in violation of this section, takes or attempts to take, or authorizes the taking of any such vessel, out of port or from the United States, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both. In addition, such vessel, her tackle, apparel, furniture, equipment, and her cargo shall be forfeited to the United States.

Legislative history

Reconstructed from this section’s Code source credit and amendment notes, resolved against the local Statutes at Large. Editorial notes are evidence, not the law that made the change.

1948
Pub. L. 80–645 · 62 Stat. 683
Enacted · 18 U.S.C. § 967
June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 748
Source evidence
Code source credit
June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 748
1994
Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994
Pub. L. 103–322 title XXXIII § 330016(1)(L) · 108 Stat. 1796
Substituted · 18 U.S.C. § 967(b)
Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $10,000”
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $10,000”.
Enacted provision · exact public law section
(L) in sections 33, 224, 231, 241, 245, 246, 286, 289, 332, 335, 337, 351, 371, 437, 440, 441, 493, 496, 500, 510, 545, 595, 599, 600, 601, 641, 664, 665, 667, 757, 792, 793, 798, 844, 892, 893, 894, 924, 952, 955, 962, 963, 964, 965, 966, 967, 970, 1001, 1002, 1003, 1019, 1020, 1022, 1023, 1027, 1082, 1084, 1115, 1202, 1361, 1362, 1364, 1365, 1385, 1461, 1462, 1464, 1587, 1623, 1654, 1656, 1735, 1737, 1751, 1902, 1903, 1904, 1910, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1958, 1992, 2101, 2113, 2153, 2154, 2155, 2156, 2231, 2232, 2271, 2274, 2275, 2314, 2315, 2383, 2386, 2387, 2388, and 2512 by striking “not more than $10,000” each place it appears and inserting “under this title”;

1 of 2 references resolved to an enrolled provision · 1 partial

Notes

Historical and Revision Notes

Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., §§ 31, 36 (June 15, 1917, ch. 30, title V, §§ 1, 6, 40 Stat. 221, 222; Mar. 28, 1940, ch. 72, § 5, 54 Stat. 79).

Section consolidates said sections of title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., with minor changes in translations and phraseology.

Mandatory punishment provision was rephrased in the alternative.

The conspiracy provision of said section 36 was omitted as covered by section 371 of this title. See reviser’s note under that section.

Changes in phraseology were also made.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1994—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $10,000”.

Executive Documents

Delegation of Functions

For delegation to Secretary of Homeland Security of authority vested in President by this section, see section 1(m) of Ex. Ord. No. 10637, Sept. 16, 1955, 20 F.R. 7025, as amended, set out as a note under section 301 of Title 3, The President.

Credits

1948–1994 · 2 acts

1948June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 748
1994Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(L), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147.

Show as published

(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 748; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(L), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147.)