120 STAT. 1678
PUBLIC LAW 109–304—OCT. 6, 2006
‘‘§ 60303. Light money ‘‘(a) IMPOSITION OF TAX.—A tax of 50 cents per ton, to be called ‘light money’, is imposed on a vessel not of the United States at each entry in a port of the United States. This tax shall be imposed and collected under the same regulations that apply to tonnage taxes. ‘‘(b) EXCEPTION FOR VESSELS OWNED BY CITIZENS.— ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Subsection (a) does not apply to a vessel owned only by citizens of the United States if— ‘‘(A) the vessel is carrying a regular document issued by a customhouse of the United States proving the vessel to be owned only by citizens of the United States; and ‘‘(B) on entry of the vessel from a foreign port, the individual designated under paragraph (2) states under oath that— ‘‘(i) the document contains the names of all the owners of the vessel; or ‘‘(ii) part of the ownership has been transferred since the document was issued and, to the best of that individual’s knowledge and belief, the vessel is still owned only by citizens of the United States. ‘‘(2) PERSON TO MAKE STATEMENT.—The statement under paragraph (1)(B) shall be made by— ‘‘(A) an owner if one resides at the port of entry; or ‘‘(B) the master if an owner does not reside at the port of entry. ‘‘(c) EXCEPTION FOR VESSELS BECOMING DOCUMENTED.—Subsection (a) section does not apply to a vessel that— ‘‘(1) is owned only by citizens of the United States; and ‘‘(2) after entering a port of the United States, becomes documented as a vessel of the United States before leaving that port. ‘‘§ 60304. Presidential suspension of tonnage taxes and light money ‘‘If the President is satisfied that the government of a foreign country does not impose discriminating or countervailing duties to the disadvantage of the United States, the President shall suspend the imposition of special tonnage taxes and light money under sections 60302 and 60303 of this title on vessels of that country. ‘‘§ 60305. Vessels in distress ‘‘A vessel is exempt from tonnage taxes and light money when it enters because it is in distress. ‘‘§ 60306. Vessels not engaged in trade ‘‘A vessel is exempt from tonnage taxes and light money when not engaged in trade. ‘‘§ 60307. Vessels engaged in coastwise trade or the fisheries ‘‘A vessel with a registry endorsement or a coastwise endorsement, trading from one port in the United States to another port in the United States or employed in the bank, whale, or other fisheries, is exempt from tonnage taxes and light money.
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