18 U.S.C. § 962
Section 962 · Arming vessel against friendly nation
Amended 2 times on record
Applied in 14 court decisions — leading case Vermont Agency of Natural Resources v. United States Ex Rel. Stevens (2000)
Most recently applied in 413 U.S. App. D.C. 338 - Alan Bauer v. Mavi Marmara (December 2014)
How often courts cite this section
Court decisions citing this, by year.Markers show enactment, consequential amendments, and circuit splits over this section — watch for a citation surge after a change or a disagreement. The dip in the last several years is a data-coverage gap, not a real trend — our corpus holds fewer opinions from the most recent years, so recent citations are undercounted.
Whoever, within the United States, furnishes, fits out, arms, or attempts to furnish, fit out or arm, any vessel, with intent that such vessel shall be employed in the service of any foreign prince, or state, or of any colony, district, or people, to cruise, or commit hostilities against the subjects, citizens, or property of any foreign prince or state, or of any colony, district, or people with whom the United States is at peace; or
Whoever issues or delivers a commission within the United States for any vessel, to the intent that she may be so employed—
Shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than three years, or both.
Every such vessel, her tackle, apparel, and furniture, together with all materials, arms, ammunition, and stores which may have been procured for the building and equipment thereof, shall be forfeited, one half to the use of the informer and the other half to the use of the United States.
Editorial notes U.S. Code · Office of the Law Revision Counsel
Historical and Revision Notes
Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., §23 (Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 321, §11, 35 Stat. 1090).
Reference to persons causing or procuring was omitted as unnecessary in view of definition of “principal” in section 2 of this title.
Words “within the United States” were substituted for “within the jurisdiction” etc., in view of the definition of United States in section 5 of this title.
Mandatory punishment provision was rephrased in the alternative.
Minor change was made in phraseology.
Amendments
1994—Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $10,000” in third par.
Canal Zone
Applicability of section to Canal Zone, see section 14 of this title.
Cross References
Limitation on informer's right to recover, see section 3730 of Title 31, Money and Finance.