Source: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCODE-2010-title18/html/USCODE-2010-title18-partI-chap3.htm
Timestamp: 2019-04-20 16:29:11+00:00

Document:
Hunting, fishing, trapping; disturbance or injury on wildlife refuges.
Importation or shipment of injurious mammals, birds, fish (including mollusks and crustacea), amphibia, and reptiles; permits, specimens for museums; regulations.
Force, violence, and threats involving animal enterprises.
Use of aircraft or motor vehicles to hunt certain wild horses or burros; pollution of watering holes.
Enforcement of animal fighting prohibitions.
The criminal provisions of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, sections 703–711 of title 16, U.S.C., 1940 ed., Conservation, and the Migratory Bird Conservation Act, sections 715–715r of title 16, U.S.C., 1940 ed., Conservation, were considered for inclusion in this chapter. Since these provisions, except parts of sections 704–707 of said title 16, are so inextricably interwoven with the Migratory Bird Acts, it was found advisable to exclude them.
2010—Pub. L. 111–294, §3(b), Dec. 9, 2010, 124 Stat. 3179, substituted “Animal crush videos” for “Depiction of animal cruelty” in item 48.
2007—Pub. L. 110–22, §2(b), May 3, 2007, 121 Stat. 88, added item 49.
2006—Pub. L. 109–374, §2(b), Nov. 27, 2006, 120 Stat. 2655, substituted “Force, violence, and threats involving animal enterprises” for “Animal enterprise terrorism” in item 43.
1999—Pub. L. 106–152, §1(b), Dec. 9, 1999, 113 Stat. 1732, added item 48.
1992—Pub. L. 102–346, §2(b), Aug. 26, 1992, 106 Stat. 929, which directed the general amendment of item 43, was executed by adding item 43 to reflect the probable intent of Congress, because item 43 had been previously struck out by Pub. L. 101–647. See 1990 Amendment note below.
1990—Pub. L. 101–647, title XII, §1206(b), title XXXV, §3506, Nov. 29, 1990, 104 Stat. 4832, 4922, substituted “Importation or shipment of injurious mammals, birds, fish (including mollusks and crustacea), amphibia, and reptiles; permits, specimens for museums; regulations” for “Importation of injurious animals and birds; permits; specimens for museums” in item 42, struck out item 43 “Transportation or importation in violation of state, national, or foreign laws”, item 44 “Marking packages or containers”, and item 45 “Capturing or killing carrier pigeons”, and inserted “; pollution of watering holes” after “burros” in item 47.
1959—Pub. L. 86–234, §1(b), Sept. 8, 1959, 73 Stat. 470, added item 47.
1956—Act Aug. 1, 1956, ch. 825, §2(b), 70 Stat. 798, amended chapter heading to include reference to “Plants” and added item 46.
Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., §145 and §§676, 682, 683, 685, 688, 689b, 692a, and 694a of title 16, U.S.C., 1940 ed., Conservation (Jan. 24, 1905, ch. 137, §2, 33 Stat. 614; June 29, 1906, ch. 3593, §2, 34 Stat. 607; Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 321, §84, 35 Stat. 1104; Aug. 11, 1916, ch. 313, 39 Stat. 476; June 5, 1920, ch. 247, §2, 41 Stat. 986; Apr. 15, 1924, ch. 108, 43 Stat. 98; Feb. 28, 1925, ch. 376, 43 Stat. 1091; July 3, 1926, ch. 744, §6, 44 Stat. 821; July 3, 1926, ch. 776, §3, 44 Stat. 889; June 28, 1930, ch. 709, §2, 46 Stat. 828; Mar. 10, 1934, ch. 54, §2, 48 Stat. 400; Reorg. Plan No. II, §4(f), 4 F.R. 2731, 53 Stat. 1433).
This revised section condenses, consolidates, and simplifies similar provisions of sections 676, 682, 683, 685, 688, 689b, 692a, and 694a of title 16, U.S.C., 1940 ed., with section 145 of title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., with such changes of phraseology as make clear the intent of Congress to protect all wildlife within Federal sanctuaries, refuges, fish hatcheries, and breeding grounds. Irrelevant provisions of such sections in title 16 are to be retained in that title.
Because of the general nature of this consolidated section, no specific reference is made to rules and regulations issued by the Secretary of the Interior or any other personage, but only to rules and regulations “promulgated by authority of law”.
The punishment provided by the sections consolidated varied from a fine not exceeding $100 or imprisonment not exceeding 6 months, or both, in section 694a of title 16, U.S.C., 1940 ed., to a fine not exceeding $1,000 or imprisonment not exceeding 1 year, or both, in sections 676, 685, and 688 of such title 16. The revised section adopts the punishment provisions of the other five sections.
The references to “misdemeanor” in sections 676, 685, 688, 689b, 692a, and 694a of title 16, U.S.C., 1940 ed., were omitted as unnecessary in view of definition of “misdemeanor” in section 1 of this title, and also to conform with policy followed by codifiers of the 1909 Criminal Code, as stated in Senate Report 10, part 1, pages 12, 13, 14, Sixtieth Congress, first session, to accompany S. 2982.
Words “upon conviction”, contained in sections 676, 685, 688, 689b, 692a, and 694a of title 16, U.S.C., 1940 ed., were omitted as surplusage, because punishment can be imposed only after conviction.
Words “in any United States court of competent jurisdiction”, in sections 676, 685, and 688 of title 16, U.S.C., 1940 ed., words “in any United States court”, in sections 689b, 692a, and 694a of such title 16, and words “in the discretion of the court”, in said sections 676, 685, 688, and 689b, were likewise omitted as surplusage.
(a)(1) The importation into the United States, any territory of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or any possession of the United States, or any shipment between the continental United States, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or any possession of the United States, of the mongoose of the species Herpestes auropunctatus; of the species of so-called “flying foxes” or fruit bats of the genus Pteropus; of the zebra mussel of the species Dreissena polymorpha; of the bighead carp of the species Hypophthalmichthys nobilis; and such other species of wild mammals, wild birds, fish (including mollusks and crustacea), amphibians, reptiles, brown tree snakes, or the offspring or eggs of any of the foregoing which the Secretary of the Interior may prescribe by regulation to be injurious to human beings, to the interests of agriculture, horticulture, forestry, or to wildlife or the wildlife resources of the United States, is hereby prohibited. All such prohibited mammals, birds, fish (including mollusks and crustacea), amphibians, and reptiles, and the eggs or offspring therefrom, shall be promptly exported or destroyed at the expense of the importer or consignee. Nothing in this section shall be construed to repeal or modify any provision of the Public Health Service Act or Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. Also, this section shall not authorize any action with respect to the importation of any plant pest as defined in the Federal Plant Pest Act,1 insofar as such importation is subject to regulation under that Act.
(2) As used in this subsection, the term “wild” relates to any creatures that, whether or not raised in captivity, normally are found in a wild state; and the terms “wildlife” and “wildlife resources” include those resources that comprise wild mammals, wild birds, fish (including mollusks and crustacea), and all other classes of wild creatures whatsoever, and all types of aquatic and land vegetation upon which such wildlife resources are dependent.
(3) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Secretary of the Interior, when he finds that there has been a proper showing of responsibility and continued protection of the public interest and health, shall permit the importation for zoological, educational, medical, and scientific purposes of any mammals, birds, fish (including mollusks and crustacea), amphibia, and reptiles, or the offspring or eggs thereof, where such importation would be prohibited otherwise by or pursuant to this Act, and this Act shall not restrict importations by Federal agencies for their own use.
(4) Nothing in this subsection shall restrict the importation of dead natural-history specimens for museums or for scientific collections, or the importation of domesticated canaries, parrots (including all other species of psittacine birds), or such other cage birds as the Secretary of the Interior may designate.
(5) The Secretary of the Treasury and the Secretary of the Interior shall enforce the provisions of this subsection, including any regulations issued hereunder, and, if requested by the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of the Treasury may require the furnishing of an appropriate bond when desirable to insure compliance with such provisions.
(b) Whoever violates this section, or any regulation issued pursuant thereto, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than six months, or both.
(2) the presence in such vessel or conveyance at such time of a substantial ratio of dead, crippled, diseased, or starving wild animals or birds shall be deemed prima facie evidence of the violation of the provisions of this subsection.
Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., §§391, 394 (Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 321, §§241, 244, 35 Stat. 1137, 1138; June 15, 1935, ch. 261, title II, §201, 49 Stat. 381; Reorg. Plan No. II, §4(f), 4 F.R. 2731, 53 Stat. 1433).
This section consolidates the provisions of sections 391 and 394 of title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., as subsections (a) and (b), respectively.
In subsection (a) the words “Territory or District thereof” were omitted as unnecessary in view of the definition of the United States in section 5 of this title.
In subsection (b) the words “upon conviction thereof”, were omitted as surplusage because punishment can only be imposed after conviction.
Minor verbal changes were also made.
This section [section 2] incorporates in section 42 of title 18, U.S.C., with slight changes in phraseology, the provisions of act of June 29, 1948 (ch. 716, 62 Stat. 1096), which became law subsequent to the enactment of the revision of title 18.
The Public Health Service Act, referred to in subsec. (a)(1), is act July 1, 1944, ch. 373, 58 Stat. 682, as amended, which is classified generally to chapter 6A (§201 et seq.) of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 201 of Title 42 and Tables.
The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, referred to in subsec. (a)(1), is act June 25, 1938, ch. 675, 52 Stat. 1040, as amended, which is classified generally to chapter 9 (§301 et seq.) of Title 21, Foods and Drugs. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 301 of Title 21 and Tables.
The Federal Plant Pest Act, referred to in subsec. (a)(1), is Pub. L. 85–36, title I, May 23, 1957, 71 Stat. 31, as amended, which was classified generally to chapter 7B (§150aa et seq.) of Title 7, Agriculture, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 106–224, title IV, §438(a)(2), June 20, 2000, 114 Stat. 454. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Tables.
This Act, referred to in subsec. (a)(3), probably refers to Pub. L. 86–702, which amended this section and section 43 of this title.
The enactment of the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981, referred to in subsec. (c), means the date of enactment of Pub. L. 97–79, which was approved Nov. 16, 1981.
2010—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 111–307 inserted “of the bighead carp of the species Hypophthalmichthys nobilis;” after “Dreissena polymorpha;”.
1996—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 104–332 made technical amendment to Pub. L. 101–646, §1208. See 1990 Amendment note below.
1994—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $500”.
1991—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 102–237 inserted “brown tree snakes,” after “reptiles,” in first sentence.
1990—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 101–646, as amended by Pub. L. 104–332, inserted “of the zebra mussel of the species Dreissena polymorpha;” after “Pteropus;”.
1981—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 97–79 substituted “Secretary of the Interior within one hundred and eighty days of the enactment of the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981” for “Secretary of the Treasury”.
1960—Pub. L. 86–702 substituted “Importation or shipment of injurious mammals, birds, fish (including mollusks and crustacea), amphibia and reptiles; permits; specimens for museums; regulations” for “Importation of injurious animals and birds; permits; specimens for museums” in section catchline.
Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 86–702 designated first sentence of subsec. (a) as par. (1), prohibited importation into the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico or any possession of the United States and shipments between the continental United States, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or any possession of the United States, described the mongoose and flying foxes by their scientific names, extended the provisions prohibiting importation or shipment to include wild mammals, wild birds, fish (including mollusks and crustacea), amphibians, reptiles, or their eggs or offspring, empowered the Secretary to prohibit importation or shipment if injurious to human beings, forestry, or to wildlife or wildlife resources, required prompt exportation or destruction at the expense of the importer or consignee, provided that this section shall not be construed to repeal or modify any provision of the Public Health Service Act or Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and that it shall not authorize any action with respect to the importation of plant pests, and deleted provisions which required destruction of prohibited birds and animals or their return at the expense of the owner, and which prohibited the importation of the English sparrow and the starling.
Subsec. (a)(2), (3). Pub. L. 86–702 added pars. (2) and (3).
Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 86–702 designated second sentence of subsec. (a) as par. (4), limited importation of natural-history specimens to dead ones, and included all species of psittacine birds.
Subsec. (a)(5). Pub. L. 86–702 designated third sentence of subsec. (a) as par. (5), authorized enforcement by the Secretary of the Interior, and permitted the Secretary of the Treasury, if requested by the Secretary of the Interior, to require the furnishing of a bond.
Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 86–702 included violations of regulations.
1949—Subsec. (a). Act May 24, 1949, made section applicable to any Territory or district thereof as well as to the United States, and changed phraseology.
Subsec. (b). Act May 24, 1949, reenacted subsec. (b) without change.
Subsec. (c). Act May 24, 1949, added subsec. (c).
For provisions relating to restrictions on the introduction of invasive species into natural ecosystems of the United States, see Ex. Ord. No. 13112, Feb. 3, 1999, 64 F.R. 6183, set out as a note under section 4321 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare.
A prior section 43, acts June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 687; Sept. 2, 1960, Pub. L. 86–702, §2, 74 Stat. 754; Dec. 5, 1969, Pub. L. 91–135, §7(a), 83 Stat. 279, related to transportation of wildlife taken in violation of State, national, or foreign law, the receipt of such wildlife, and the making of false records in relation thereto, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 97–79, §9(b)(2), Nov. 16, 1981, 95 Stat. 1079. See section 3372(a) of Title 16, Conservation.
2006—Pub. L. 109–374 amended section catchline and text generally, substituting provisions relating to force, violence, and threats involving animal enterprises for provisions relating to animal enterprise terrorism.
2002—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 107–188, §336(a), amended heading and text of subsec. (a) generally, deleting par. (2) reference to intentionally stealing and to requirement that economic damage exceed $10,000, and in concluding provisions substituting reference to punishment under subsec. (b) for reference to fine or imprisonment of not more than one year.
Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 107–188, §336(b), amended subsec. (b) generally, substituting “Penalties” for “Aggravated Offense” in heading and list of penalties for property damage, personal injury and death for reference to serious bodily injury and death in text.
Subsec. (c)(3). Pub. L. 107–188, §336(c), added par. (3).
1996—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 104–294 inserted “or 3663A” after “section 3663” in introductory provisions.
Section 3 of Pub. L. 102–346 directed Attorney General and Secretary of Agriculture to jointly conduct a study on extent and effects of domestic and international terrorism on enterprises using animals for food or fiber production, agriculture, research, or testing, and, not later than 1 year after Aug. 26, 1992, submit a report that describes the results of the study together with any appropriate recommendations and legislation to Congress.
2 So in original. Probably should be preceded by “for”.
Section, acts June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 687; Dec. 5, 1969, Pub. L. 91–135, §8, 83 Stat. 281, related to marking of packages or containers used in the shipment of fish and wildlife. See section 3372(b) of Title 16, Conservation.
Section, act June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 688, related to penalties for capturing or killing carrier pigeons.
Shall be fined under this title, or imprisoned not more than six months, or both.
(2) The term “motor vehicle” includes an automobile, automobile truck, automobile wagon, motorcycle, or any other self-propelled vehicle designed for running on land.
1994—Subsecs. (a), (b). Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $500”.
(2) Distribution of animal crush videos.—It shall be unlawful for any person to knowingly sell, market, advertise, exchange, or distribute an animal crush video in, or using a means or facility of, interstate or foreign commerce.
(d) Penalty.—Any person who violates subsection (b) shall be fined under this title, imprisoned for not more than 7 years, or both.
(f) No Preemption.—Nothing in this section shall be construed to preempt the law of any State or local subdivision thereof to protect animals.
2010—Pub. L. 111–294 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section related to depiction of animal cruelty.
“(1) The United States has a long history of prohibiting the interstate sale, marketing, advertising, exchange, and distribution of obscene material and speech that is integral to criminal conduct.
“(2) The Federal Government and the States have a compelling interest in preventing intentional acts of extreme animal cruelty.
“(3) Each of the several States and the District of Columbia criminalize intentional acts of extreme animal cruelty, such as the intentional crushing, burning, drowning, suffocating, or impaling of animals for no socially redeeming purpose.
“(4) There are certain extreme acts of animal cruelty that appeal to a specific sexual fetish. These acts of extreme animal cruelty are videotaped, and the resulting video tapes are commonly referred to as ‘animal crush videos’.
“(5) The Supreme Court of the United States has long held that obscenity is an exception to speech protected under the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States.
“(C) lack serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value.
“(7) Serious criminal acts of extreme animal cruelty are integral to the creation, sale, distribution, advertising, marketing, and exchange of animal crush videos.
“(8) The creation, sale, distribution, advertising, marketing, and exchange of animal crush videos is intrinsically related and integral to creating an incentive for, directly causing, and perpetuating demand for the serious acts of extreme animal cruelty the videos depict. The primary reason for those criminal acts is the creation, sale, distribution, advertising, marketing, and exchange of the animal crush video image.
“(C) often precludes proof that the criminal acts occurred within the statute of limitations.
Whoever violates subsection (a), (b), (c), or (e) of section 26 of the Animal Welfare Act shall be fined under this title, imprisoned for not more than 5 years, or both, for each violation.
Section 26(a)–(c), (e) of the Animal Welfare Act, referred to in text, is section 2156(a)–(c), (e) of Title 7, Agriculture.
2008—Pub. L. 110–246, §14207(b), substituted “5 years” for “3 years”.

References: §3
 §2
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 §1206
 §3506
 §1
 §2
 §145
 §2
 §2
 §84
 §2
 §6
 §3
 §2
 §2
 §4
 §201
 §4
 §438
 §1208
 §2
 §7
 §9
 §336
 §336
 §336
 §8
 §14207