I 
108TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1038
To increase the penalties to be imposed for a violation of fire regulations 
applicable to the public lands, National Park System lands, or National 
Forest System lands when the violation results in damage to public 
or private property, to specify the purpose for which collected fines 
may be used, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 27, 2003
Mr. TANCREDO (for himself, Mr. MCINNIS, Mr. UDALL of Colorado, Mr. 
BEAUPREZ, Mrs. MUSGRAVE, and Mr. HEFLEY) introduced the following 
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Resources, and in addition 
to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently deter-
mined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions 
as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To increase the penalties to be imposed for a violation of 
fire regulations applicable to the public lands, National 
Park System lands, or National Forest System lands 
when the violation results in damage to public or private 
property, to specify the purpose for which collected fines 
may be used, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Public Lands Fire 
Regulations Enforcement Act of 2003’’. 
SEC. 2. PENALTIES FOR VIOLATION OF PUBLIC LAND FIRE 
REGULATIONS 
RESULTING 
IN 
PROPERTY 
DAMAGE. 
(a) INCREASED PENALTIES ON INTERIOR LANDS.—
Notwithstanding section 303(a) of the Federal Land Pol-
icy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1733(a)) or 
section 3 of the Act of August 25, 1916 (16 U.S.C. 3), 
a violation of the rules regulating the use of fire by visitors 
and other users of lands administered by the Bureau of 
Land Management or National Park System lands shall 
be punished by a fine of not less than $1,000 or imprison-
ment for not more than one year, or both, if the violation 
results in damage to public or private property. 
(b) INCREASED PENALTIES ON NATIONAL FOREST 
SYSTEM LANDS.—Notwithstanding the eleventh undesig-
nated paragraph under the heading ‘‘SURVEYING THE 
PUBLIC LANDS’’ of the Act of June 4, 1897 (16 U.S.C. 
551), a violation of the rules regulating the use of fire 
by visitors and other users of National Forest System 
lands shall be punished by a fine of not less than $1,000 
or imprisonment for not more than one year, or both, if 
the violation results in damage to public or private prop-
erty.
(c) RELATION TO OTHER SENTENCE OF FINE AU-
THORITY.—The maximum fine amount specified in sub-
sections (a) and (b) applies in lieu of the fine otherwise 
applicable under section 3571 of title 18, United States 
Code. 
(d) USE OF COLLECTED FINES.—Any moneys re-
ceived by the United States as a result of a fine imposed 
for a violation of fire rules applicable to lands adminis-
tered by the Bureau of Land Management, National Park 
System lands, or National Forest System lands shall be 
available to the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary 
of Agriculture, as the case may be, without further appro-
priation and until expended, for the following purposes: 
(1) To cover the cost to the United States of 
any improvement, protection, or rehabilitation work 
rendered necessary by the action that resulted in the 
fine. 
(2) To reimburse the affected agency for the 
cost of the response to the action that resulted in 
the fine, including investigations, damage assess-
ments, and legal actions. 
(3) To increase public awareness of rules, regu-
lations, and other requirements regarding the use of 
fire on public lands.
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