Source: https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title19-section1594&num=0&edition=prelim
Timestamp: 2020-01-28 12:13:36
Document Index: 625633702

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 1594', '§594', '§3121', '§6076', '§3088', '§3063', '§594']

[USC02] 19 USC 1594: Seizure of conveyances
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19 USC 1594: Seizure of conveyances Text contains those laws in effect on January 27, 2020
(1) No conveyance used by any person as a common carrier in the transaction of business as a common carrier is subject to seizure and forfeiture under the customs laws for violations relating to merchandise contained-
(2) Except as provided in paragraph (1) or subsection (c), no vessel, vehicle, or aircraft is subject to forfeiture to the extent of an interest of an owner for a drug-related offense established by that owner to have been committed or omitted without the knowledge, consent, or willful blindness of the owner.
If any merchandise the importation of which is prohibited is found to be, or to have been-
(1) on board a conveyance used as a common carrier in the transaction of business as a common carrier in one or more packages or containers-
(1) The term "owner or operator" includes-
(2) The term "master" and similar terms relating to the person in charge of a conveyance includes the purser or other person on the conveyance who is responsible for maintaining records relating to the cargo transported in the conveyance.
When a common carrier has been seized in accordance with the provisions of subsection (c) and it is subsequently determined that a violation of such subsection occurred but that the vessel will be released, the conveyance is liable for the costs and expenses of the seizure and detention.
(June 17, 1930, ch. 497, title IV, §594, 46 Stat. 751 ; Pub. L. 99–570, title III, §3121, Oct. 27, 1986, 100 Stat. 3207–86 ; Pub. L. 100–690, title VI, §6076(b), Nov. 18, 1988, 102 Stat. 4324 .)
Provisions substantially similar to subsec. (a) of this section, so far as it relates to vessels, except that they referred to the "revenue laws," instead of the "customs laws," were contained in R.S. §3088. Provisions substantially similar to subsec. (b), so far as it relates to vessels, were contained in act Feb. 8, 1881, ch. 34, 21 Stat. 322 . Provisions similar to subsec. (b), except that they applied to railway cars, engines, other vehicles, and teams, and referred to the owner, superintendent, or agent of the owner in charge, instead of the "conductor, driver," etc., were contained in R.S. §3063. All of these sections were superseded and more closely assimilated to this section by act Sept. 21, 1922, ch. 356, title IV, §594, 42 Stat. 982 , and repealed by sections 642 and 643 thereof. Section 594 of the 1922 act was superseded by section 594 of act June 17, 1930, comprising this section, and repealed by section 651(a)(1) of the 1930 act.
1988-Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 100–690 designated existing provisions as par. (1), redesignated former pars. (1), (2), and (3) as subpars. (A), (B), and (C), respectively, and added par. (2).
1986-Pub. L. 99–570 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section catchline read "Libel of vessels and vehicles" and text read as follows: "Whenever a vessel or vehicle, or the owner or master, conductor, driver, or other person in charge thereof, has become subject to a penalty for violation of the customs-revenue laws of the United States, such vessel or vehicle shall be held for the payment of such penalty and may be seized and proceeded against summarily by libel to recover the same: Provided, That no vessel or vehicle used by any person as a common carrier in the transaction of business as such common carrier shall be so held or subject to seizure or forfeiture under the customs laws, unless it shall appear that the owner or master of such vessel or the conductor, driver, or other person in charge of such vehicle was at the time of the alleged illegal act a consenting party or privy thereto."