# United States Statutes at Large/Volume 1/3rd Congress/1st Session/Chapter 45

Chap. ⅩⅬⅤ.—An Act laying duties upon Carriages for the conveyance of Persons.
April 6, 1802. Specific duties on carriages.Section 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That there shall be levied, collected and paid, upon all carriages for the ​conveyance of persons, which shall be kept by or for any person, for his or her own use, or to be let out to hire, or for the conveying of passengers, the several duties and rates following, to wit: For and upon every coach, the yearly sum of ten dollars;—for and upon every chariot, the yearly sum of eight dollars;—for and upon every phæton and coachee, six dollars;—for and upon every other four wheel, and every two wheel top carriage, two dollars;—and upon every other two wheel carriage, one dollar. Provided always, That nothing herein contained shall be construed to charge with a duty, any carriage usually and chiefly employed in husbandry, or for the transporting or carrying of goods, wares, merchandise, produce or commodities.
To be levied and collected by supervisors and inspectors.Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That the duties aforesaid shall be levied, collected, received and accounted for, by and under the immediate direction of the supervisors and inspectors of the revenue, and other officers of inspection, subject to the superintendence, control and direction of the department of the treasury, according to the authorities and duties of the respective officers thereof.
Duty of persons keeping carriages.Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That every person having or keeping a carriage or carriages, which, by this act, is or are made subject to the payment of duty, shall, within the month of September in each year, make entry of the same with the officer of inspection of the district, in which he or she shall reside, and pay the duty thereon: And such entry shall be in writing, subscribed by the owner of such carriage or carriages, and shall describe each by its proper denomination and number of wheels. Of supervisors. Duty of supervisors.And, for the purpose of receiving such entry and payment, it shall be the duty of the supervisor of the district, or of some officer of inspection, to attend, within the month of September in each year, at one of the most public and convenient places in each county, within their respective districts, and to give public notice, at least one month previous to such day, of the time and place of such attendance. Forfeiture on neglecting to pay duties herein.And if any person, having or keeping a carriage or carriages, charged with a duty or duties by this act, shall neglect or omit to bring, or send and deliver such list thereof, at or within any monthly period aforesaid, in manner above mentioned, or to pay the duty or duties thereupon payable, he or she shall, for every such neglect or omission, forfeit and pay a sum equal to the duty or duties payable upon the said carriage or carriages, in addition to the said duty or duties.
Duty of persons electing to pay at usual place of abode.Sec. 5. And be it further enacted, That every person who shall make such election, as aforesaid, shall pay, or cause to be paid, yearly, and every year, after the month of September, upon the calling for that purpose, at his or her said place of habitation, of any officer of inspection, or person thereunto authorized, the amount of duty or duties by him or her payable, upon the carriage or carriages, whereof he or she shall have transmitted a list, as aforesaid, so long as he or she shall continue to have or keep the same, and until he or she shall give notice in writing, at the office of inspection, to which the said list shall have been transmitted, that he or she hath sold, or otherwise assigned, or alienated, any carriage or carriages therein mentioned: In default thereof how said duties may be sued for.in default of which payment, the duty or duties, and commission thereupon, in respect to which any such default shall be made, shall and may be sued for and recovered in any court of the United States, or of either of them, or shall and may be levied, together with reasonable charges, by distress and sale of the goods and chattels of the person making such default.
Persons neglecting to notify carriage, &c.Sec. 6. And be it further enacted, That if any person, by whom such election, as aforesaid, shall have been made, shall omit to notify, in manner herein before directed, any carriage or carriages liable to duty, by this act, which he or she shall, at any time, have or keep, he or she shall, in respect to such carriage or carriages, stand and be in the same predicament, as persons by whom no such election shall have been made, How to be proceeded against.and shall incur the like penalties and forfeitures, as such persons are by this act made liable to, for neglecting or omitting to bring, or send and deliver, true and exact lists of the carriages by them respectively had or kept, and paying the duties thereupon, in manner herein directed.
Privilege of persons electing to pay at usual place of abode.Sec. 7. Provided always, and be it further enacted, That it shall be, at any time, lawful for any person, who shall have made any such election, as aforesaid, by notice in writing under his or her hand, sent to, and delivered at the same office of inspection, where the notice of such election shall have been given, to revoke the said election; after which revocation, he or she shall stand and be, as to all matters and things directed and prescribed by this act, in the same situation, as if no such election had been made.
Power of supervisors herein.Sec. 8. And be it further enacted, That the supervisors of the revenue shall have power, from time to time, to examine upon oath or affirmation, any officers or persons employed under them in the collection and receipts of the duties aforesaid.
Penalty on swearing or affirming falsely.Sec. 9. And be it further enacted, That if any person shall wilfully swear or affirm falsely, touching any matter herein before required to be verified by oath or affirmation, he or she shall suffer the pains and penalties, which by law are prescribed for wilful and corrupt perjury; and, if an officer, shall forfeit his office, and be incapable of afterwards holding any office under the United States.
Fines and forfeitures in pursuance of this act, how disposed of, and duties sued for and recovered.Sec. 10. And be it further enacted, That all fines, penalties and forfeitures, which shall be incurred pursuant to this act, shall be divided and distributed, one half thereof to the use of the United States, and the other half thereof to the use of the person, who, if an officer of inspection, shall first discover, if not an officer of inspection, shall first give information of the cause, matter or thing, whereby any of the said penalties or forfeitures shall have been incurred, and as well the duties hereby laid, as the said fines, penalties and forfeitures, all or any of them, shall and may be sued for, and recovered, in any court of the United States, or before any magistrate, or state court, having competent jurisdiction.
Limitation of this act.Sec. 11. And be it further enacted, That this act shall continue and be in force, for and during the term of two years, and from thence to the end of the next session of Congress, and no longer.
Approved, June 5, 1794.