16 U.S.C. § 4912 — Penalties and regulations

(a) Penalties. (1) Civil penalties. (A) The Secretary^* may assess a civil penalty of not more than $25,000 for each violation against a person^* who knowingly violates section 4910(a)(1) or (2) of this title or a permit issued under section 4911, and against a person in the business of importing exotic birds who violates those provisions or permits. (B) The Secretary may assess a penalty of not more than $12,000 for each violation against a person who knowingly violates section 4910(a)(3), and against a person in the business of importing exotic birds who violates it. (C) The Secretary may assess a penalty of not more than $500 for each violation against a person who otherwise violates section 4910(a) or a permit issued under section 4911. (D) The Secretary must assess and may collect a civil penalty under this section in the way a penalty under the Act of December 28, 1973 (Public Law 93-205), 16 U.S.C. § 1531 et seq., may be assessed and collected under section 111(a) of that Act, 16 U.S.C. § 1540(a).

(2) Criminal penalties. (A) A person who knowingly violates section 4910(a)(1) or (2) or a permit issued under section 4911, and a person in the business of importing exotic birds who violates those provisions or permits, may be fined under title 18, imprisoned for not more than two years, or both. (B) A person who knowingly violates section 4910(a)(3) may be fined under title 18, imprisoned for not more than six months, or both.

(b) District court jurisdiction. The federal district courts, including the courts listed in section 460 of title 28, have jurisdiction over every action arising under this chapter. For this chapter, American Samoa is included in the judicial district of the federal district court for the District of Hawaii. The Trust Territory of Palau and the Northern Marianas are included in the judicial district of the federal district court for the District of Guam.

(c) Other enforcement. For section 3(a) of the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981, 16 U.S.C. § 3372(a), importing an exotic bird^* is considered transportation of wildlife.

(d) Regulations. The Secretary must issue regulations necessary and appropriate to carry out this chapter’s purposes.

(e) Savings provisions. The Secretary’s authority under this chapter is in addition to, and does not affect, the Secretary’s authority under the Endangered Species^* Act of 1973, 16 U.S.C. § 1531 et seq., and does not reduce the Secretary’s authority under the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981, 16 U.S.C. § 3371 et seq. Nothing in this chapter repeals, replaces, or changes any federal-law provision.