CFR Subpart Q

CFR Subpart Q
in effect

19 C.F.R. § 122.161 In general.

Except as provided in subpart S of this part, any person who violates any Customs requirements stated in this part, or any regulation that applies to aircraft under § 122.2, is, in addition to any other applicable penalty, subject to civil penalty of $5,000 as provided by 19 U.S.C. 1644 and 1644a, except for overages, and failure to manifest narcotics or marihuana, in which cases the penalties set forth in section 584, Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1584) apply, or for failure to report arrival or to present the documents required by § 122.27(c) of this part in which cases the penalties set forth in section 436, Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1436) apply, and any aircraft used in connection with any such violation shall be subject to seizure and forfeiture, as provided for in the Customs laws. A penalty or forfeiture may be mitigated under part 171 of this chapter.

19 C.F.R. § 122.162 Failure to notify and explain differences in air cargo manifest.

(a) Application. Penalties shall be assessed if differences in an air cargo manifest (overages or shortages) are discovered and: (1) The required notice and explanation are not made in time; (2) The port director is not satisfied that the differences were caused by clerical error or other mistake; (3) There has been a loss of revenue to the U.S.; or (4) The port director is not satisfied that there was a valid reason for delay in reporting any differences. (b) Definition. Under this section, “clerical error or other mistake” means a non-negligent, inadvertant, or typographical mistake in the preparation, assembly, or submission (electronically or otherwise) of the manifest. (c) Repeated differences. If repeated differences are found in manifests filed by the same person, it may be determined that the differences were a result of negligence and not clerical error or other mistake. (d) Knowledge. A penalty may be assessed for differences in a manifest that are unknown to the aircraft commander or owner.

19 C.F.R. § 122.163 Transit air cargo traveling to U.S. ports.

(a) Application. If transit air cargo is traveling from the port of arrival to another U.S. port under § 122.119, a liability shall be assessed, as set out in § 18.8 of this chapter if there has been: (1) Shortage in delivery; (2) Irregular delivery; or (3) Non-delivery. (b) Liabilities assessed. The liabilities assessed under this section are imposed as liquidated damages under a carrier's bond. (c) Value of merchandise. The port director shall determine the value of merchandise for assessment purposes based on the following factors: (1) Any data or documents available to the airline which presented a receipt for the transit air cargo, and available to the importing airline relating to the description and value of the cargo; and (2) Other information available to the port director relating to the same or similar merchandise. If the data or documents required by this section are not submitted within 90 days of the date requested, the port director shall determine value on the basis of other available information. The transit air cargo manifest does not reflect value.

19 C.F.R. § 122.164 Transportation to another port for exportation.

If transit air cargo is traveling from the port of arrival to another U.S. port for later exportation, any liquidated damages for shortages or irregular delivery shall be assessed as provided in § 122.163.

19 C.F.R. § 122.165 Air cabotage.

(a) The air cabotage law (49 U.S.C. 41703) prohibits the transportation of persons, property, or mail for compensation or hire between points of the U.S. in a foreign civil aircraft. The term “foreign civil aircraft” includes all aircraft that are not of U.S. registration except those foreign-registered aircraft leased or chartered to a U.S. air carrier and operated under the authority of regulations issued by the Department of Transportation, as provided for in 14 CFR 121.153, and those aircraft used exclusively in the service of any government. (b) Customs officers detecting possible violations shall report the matter to Headquarters, Attention: Entry Procedures and Carriers Branch. Liability should not be assessed under 49 U.S.C. Chapter 463 pending instructions from Headquarters since certain limited domestic transportation by foreign civil aircraft is permitted under regulations issued by the Department of Transportation.

19 C.F.R. § 122.166 Arrival, departure, discharge, and documentation.

(a) Liability for civil penalties. Except as otherwise provided, any aircraft pilot violation of the requirements of section 433, Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, (19 U.S.C. 1433), with respect to the following actions shall be liable for civil penalties as provided by section 436, Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1436), and described in paragraph (c) of this section: (1) Advance notification of arrival; (2) Report of arrival; (3) Landing of aircraft; (4) Presentation of documentation; (5) Departure from the port, place, or airport of arrival without authorization; or (6) Discharge of passenger, or merchandise (to include baggage) without authorization. (b) Liability for criminal penalties. Upon conviction, any aircraft pilot violating any of the Customs requirements described in paragraph (a) of this section shall, in addition to civil penalties be subject to criminal penalties as set forth in section 436, Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, (19 U.S.C. 1436), and described in paragraph (c) of this section. If the aircraft has or is discovered to have had on board any merchandise (other than the equivalent, for a vessel, of sea stores) the importation of which into the U.S. is prohibited, that person shall be subject to an additional fine as set forth in 19 U.S.C. 1436 and described in paragraph (c) of this section. (c) Civil and criminal penalties described—(1) Civil penalty. The pilot of any aircraft who fails to comply with the requirements of this section is liable for a civil penalty of $5,000 for the first violation, and $10,000 for each subsequent violation. Any aircraft used in connection with any such violation is subject to seizure and forfeiture. (2) Criminal penalty. In addition to the civil penalty prescribed for violation of this section, the pilot of any aircraft who intentionally fails to comply with the requirements of this section is liable, upon conviction, for a fine of not more than $2,000 or imprisonment for 1 year, or both. If the aircraft is found to have, or to have had, on board any merchandise the importation of which is prohibited, such individual is liable for an additional fine of not more than $10,000 or imprisonment for not more than 5 years, or both. (3) Additional civil penalty. If any merchandise, other than the equivalent of vessel sea stores, is imported or brought into the U.S. aboard an aircraft which has failed to comply with the requirements prescribed by this section, the pilot of the aircraft shall be liable for a civil penalty equal to the value of the merchandise, and the merchandise may be seized and forfeited, unless properly entered by the importer or consignee.

19 C.F.R. § 122.167 Aviation smuggling.

(a) Civil penalties. Any aircraft pilot who transports, or any person on board any aircraft who possesses prohibited or restricted merchandise knowing, or intending, that the merchandise will be introduced into the U.S. contrary to law shall be subject to a civil penalty of twice the value of the merchandise involved, but not less than $10,000, as prescribed in section 590, Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1590). Any aircraft used in connection with, or in aiding or facilitating, any violation of 19 U.S.C. 1590, whether or not any person is charged in connection with such violation, may be seized and forfeited in accordance with Customs laws. (b) Criminal penalties. Any aircraft pilot or person who intentionally violates 19 U.S.C. 1590 is, upon conviction, subject to the criminal penalties of a fine of not more than $10,000 or imprisonment for not more than 5 years, or both, if none of the merchandise involved is a controlled substance. More severe penalties are provided in 19 U.S.C. 1590 if the smuggled merchandise is a controlled substance. In such case, a violator is liable for a fine of not more than $250,000 or imprisonment for not more than 20 years, or both. (c) For purposes of imposing civil penalties under this section, any of the following acts, when performed within 250 miles of the territorial sea of the United States, shall be evidence that the transportation or possession of merchandise was unlawful and shall indicate that the purpose of the transfer was to make it possible for such merchandise, or any part of it, to be introduced into the U.S. unlawfully. For purposes of seizure and forfeiture, the following acts shall be evidence that an aircraft was used in connection with, or to aid or facilitate, a violation of this section; (1) The operation of an aircraft without lights during such times as lights are required to be displayed under applicable law. (2) The presence on an aircraft of an auxiliary fuel tank which is not installed in accordance with applicable law. (3) The failure to correctly identify the aircraft by registration number and country of registration, when requested to do so by a customs officer or other government authority. (4) The external display of false registration numbers or false country of registration. (5) The presence on board of unmanifested merchandise, the importation of which is prohibited or restricted. (6) The presence on board of controlled substances which are not manifested or which are not accompanied by the permits or licenses required under Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs or other international treaty. (7) The presence of any compartment or equipment which is built or fitted out for smuggling.

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