Us Code § 80116 - Criminal penalty
Full text of Us Code United States Code § 80116 — Criminal penalty, with citation guidance and answers to common questions.
§ 80116. Criminal penalty
A person shall be fined under title 18, imprisoned for not more than 5 years, or both, if the person—
(1) violates this chapter with intent to defraud; or
(2) knowingly or with intent to defraud—
(A) falsely makes, alters, or copies a bill of lading subject to this chapter;
(B) utters, publishes, or issues a falsely made, altered, or copied bill subject to this chapter; or
(C) negotiates or transfers for value a bill containing a false statement.
(Pub. L. 103–272, §1(e), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 1353.)
| Revised Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
|---|---|---|
| 80116 | 49 App.:121. | Aug. 29, 1916, ch. 415, §41, 39 Stat. 544. |
In this section, before clause (1), the words "fined under title 18" are substituted for "a fine not exceeding $5,000", and the words "shall be guilty of a misdemeanor" are omitted, for consistency with title 18. The words "upon conviction . . . punished for each offense" are omitted as unnecessary because of the restatement. Clause (1) is substituted for "or who, with intent to defraud, violates, or fails to comply with, or aids in any violation of, or failure to comply with any provision of this chapter" for clarity and because of 18:2. In clause (2)(A), the words "forges, counterfeits" are omitted as being included in "makes". The word "copies" is substituted for "prints or photographs" for clarity. The words "bill of lading subject to this chapter" are substituted for "bill of lading purporting to represent goods received for shipment among the several States or with foreign nations" for clarity and for consistency with section 80102 of the revised title. Clause (2)(B) is substituted for "utters or publishes as true and genuine any such falsely altered, forged, counterfeited, falsely printed or photographed bill of lading . . . or issues" to eliminate unnecessary words and for consistency in this section. The words "knowing it to be falsely altered, forged, counterfeited, falsely printed or photographed" are omitted as unnecessary because of the restatement of the intent required to commit the crime. The words "or aids in making, altering, forging, counterfeiting, printing or photographing, or uttering or publishing the same . . . or aids in issuing or procuring the issue of" are omitted as surplus because of 18:2. The words "as to the receipt of the goods, or as to any other matter" are omitted as unnecessary.
CHAPTER 803—CONTRABAND
About This Section
49 U.S.C. § 80116 is part of Title 49 of the United States Code. The United States Code is the official codification of federal statutes maintained by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel of the U.S. House of Representatives. Congress amends the Code through new public laws, which are eventually incorporated into the relevant title.
This section may be cited in legal writing as 49 U.S.C. § 80116. For the most current official text, including any recent amendments, use the official source links below. Do not rely on this page as the sole authority for legal citation or litigation.
How to Read This Statute
Statutes are organized by title, chapter, section, and subsection. Pay attention to words like "shall," "may," "and," and "or," because they determine whether a requirement is mandatory or permissive and whether multiple conditions must all be met. Historical notes and amendments often appear at the end of a section.
Using This Page
This page is intended for research and educational use. Lawyers, students, journalists, and compliance professionals can use it as a starting point, but should always verify the current text through an official government source before relying on it for legal advice, filings, or compliance decisions.