18 U.S.C. § 963 — Detention of armed vessel

in plain englishAI-generated · not legal advice

(a) During a war in which the United States is neutral, the President or an authorized person may detain an armed vessel owned wholly or partly by United States citizens, or a domestic or foreign vessel (other than a public vessel that entered a United States port), that is plainly built or adapted for war. The vessel stays detained until its owner or person in charge provides satisfactory proof that it will not attack a foreign prince, state, colony, district, or people with whom the United States is at peace and will not be sold or delivered to a belligerent nation or its agent, officer, or citizen within United States jurisdiction or on the high seas. (b) A person who violates this section by taking, trying to take, or authorizing the taking of such a vessel out of port or the United States may be fined under title 18, imprisoned for up to 10 years, or both.

(a) During a war in which the United States is neutral, the President or an authorized person may detain an armed vessel owned wholly or partly by United States citizens, or a domestic or foreign vessel (other than a public vessel that entered a United States port), that is plainly built or adapted for war. The vessel stays detained until its owner or person in charge provides satisfactory proof that it will not attack a foreign prince, state, colony, district, or people with whom the United States is at peace and will not be sold or delivered to a belligerent nation or its agent, officer, or citizen within United States jurisdiction or on the high seas. (b) A person who violates this section by taking, trying to take, or authorizing the taking of such a vessel out of port or the United States may be fined under title 18, imprisoned for up to 10 years, or both. The vessel, its tackle, apparel, furniture, equipment, and cargo are forfeited to the United States.

the actual law source: uscode.house.gov ↗public domain

(a)

During a war in which the United States is a neutral nation, the President, or any person authorized by him, may detain any armed vessel owned wholly or in part by citizens of the United States, or any vessel, domestic or foreign (other than one which has entered the ports of the United States as a public vessel), which is manifestly built for warlike purposes or has been converted or adapted from a private vessel to one suitable for warlike use, until the owner or master, or person having charge of such vessel, shall furnish proof satisfactory to the President, or to the person duly authorized by him, that the vessel will not be employed to cruise against or commit or attempt to commit hostilities upon the subjects, citizens, or property of any foreign prince or state, or of any colony, district, or people with which the United States is at peace, and that the said vessel will not be sold or delivered to any belligerent nation, or to an agent, officer, or citizen of such nation, by them or any of them, within the jurisdiction of the United States, or upon the high seas.

(b)

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.

Source credit: (June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 746; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(L), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147.)

history & why it existsrecord from the source credit

1948Enacted · Act of June 25, 1948, ch. 645 · 62 Stat. 746
1994Amended · Pub. L. 103-322 · 108 Stat. 2147

A history note hasn’t been published yet. The record shows enactment by ch. 645 on 1948-06-25.