47 U.S.C. § 27 — Offending vessels to show nationality

This is one undivided rule about enforcing an international convention on submarine cables, referenced elsewhere in this chapter. The rule applies to a person who has custody of the papers needed to prepare official statements about violations. Under article 10 of the convention, officers commanding vessels of war, or vessels specially commissioned, can draw up these statements — records of facts about infractions. That person commits a misdemeanor (a lesser crime) if they do either of two things: refuse to show those papers when asked, or violently resist people who have authority under article 10 to draw up the statements while those people are exercising their functions. If convicted, the punishment is imprisonment for up to two years, a fine of up to $5,000, or both — whichever the court decides.