97 STAT. 590 PUBLIC LAW 98-89 —AUG. 26, 1983 § 12122. Penalties (a) A person that violates this chapter or a regulation prescribed under this chapter is liable to the United States Government for a civil penalty of not more than $500. (b) When the owner of a vessel knowingly falsifies or conceals a material fact, or makes a false statement or representation about the documentation of the vessel, that vessel and its equipment are liable to seizure by and forfeiture to the United States Government. (c) When a certificate of documentation is knowingly and fraudu- lently used for a vessel, that vessel and its equipment are liable to seizure by and forfeiture to the Government. CHAPTER 123—NUMBERING UNDOCUMENTED VESSELS Regulations. Approval withdrawal. Sec. 12301. Numbering vessels. 12302. Standard numbering system. 12303. Exemption from numbering requirements. 12304. Certificates of numbers. 12305. Displaying numbers. 12306. Safety certificates. 12307. Regulations on numbering and fees. 12308. Providing vessel numbering and registration information. 12309. Penalties. § 12301. Numbering vessels An undocumented vessel equipped with propulsion machinery of any kind shall have a number issued by the proper issuing authority in the State in which the vessel principally is operated. § 12302. Standard numbering system (a) The Secretary shall prescribe by regulation a standard num- bering system for vessels to which this chapter applies. On applica- tion by a State, the Secretary shall approve a State numbering system that is consistent with the standard numbering system. In carrying out its numbering system, a State shall adopt any defini- tions of relevant terms prescribed by regulations of the Secretary. Qo) A State with an approved numbering system is the issuing authority within the meaning of this chapter. The Secretary is the issuing authority in a State in which a State numbering system has not been approved. (c) When a vessel is numbered in a State, it is deemed in compli- ance with the numbering system of a State in which it temporarily is operated. (d) When a vessel is removed to a new State of principal operation, the issuing authority of that State shall recognize the validity of the number issued by the original State for 60 days. (e) If a State has a numbering system approved after the Secretary issues a number, the State shall recognize the validity of the number issued by the Secretary for one year. (f) When the Secretary decides that a Stote numbering system is not being carried out consistent with the stondard numbering system or the Stote has changed the system without the Secretary's approval, the Secretary may withdraw approval after giving notice to the State, in writing, stoting the reasons for the withdrawal.
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