US Code

Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

14 U.S.C. § 526

Stopping vessels; indemnity for firing at or into vessel

(a)
(1)
Whenever any vessel liable to seizure or examination does not stop on being ordered to do so or on being pursued by an authorized vessel or authorized aircraft which has displayed the ensign, pennant, or other identifying insignia prescribed for an authorized vessel or authorized aircraft, the individual in command or in charge of the authorized vessel or authorized aircraft may, subject to paragraph (2), fire at or into the vessel which does not stop.
(2)
Before firing at or into a vessel as authorized in paragraph (1), the individual in command or in charge of the authorized vessel or authorized aircraft shall fire a gun as a warning signal, except that the prior firing of a gun as a warning signal is not required if that individual determines that the firing of a warning signal would unreasonably endanger individuals or property in the vicinity of the vessel to be stopped.
(b)
The individual in command of an authorized vessel or authorized aircraft and all individuals acting under that individual’s direction shall be indemnified from any penalties or actions for damages for firing at or into a vessel pursuant to subsection (a). If any individual is killed or wounded by the firing, and the individual in command of the authorized vessel or authorized aircraft or any individual acting pursuant to their orders is prosecuted or arrested therefor, they shall be forthwith admitted to bail.
(c)
A vessel or aircraft is an authorized vessel or authorized aircraft for purposes of this section if—
(1)
it is a Coast Guard vessel or aircraft;
(2)
section 379 of title 101
1 See References in Text note below.
it is a surface naval vessel or military aircraft on which one or more members of the Coast Guard are assigned pursuant to ;  or
(3)
it is any other vessel or aircraft on government noncommercial service when—
(A)
the vessel or aircraft is under the tactical control of the Coast Guard; and
(B)
at least one member of the Coast Guard is assigned and conducting a Coast Guard mission on the vessel or aircraft.

Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 39363 Stat. 546Pub. L. 100–690, title VII, § 7401(a)102 Stat. 4483Pub. L. 106–65, div. A, title X, § 1022113 Stat. 746Pub. L. 108–293, title II, § 205(a)118 Stat. 1032Pub. L. 111–281, title II, § 213(a)124 Stat. 2915Pub. L. 114–120, title II, § 209(9)130 Stat. 41Pub. L. 115–282, title I, § 105(b)132 Stat. 4200Pub. L. 116–283, div. G, title LVXXXV134 Stat. 4748(, , § 637; , , ; , , ; –(c), (e)(1), , , 1033; , , ; , , ; renumbered § 526, , , ; [LXXXV], § 8505(a)(7), , .)

Historical and Revision Notes

Based on title 14, U.S.C., 1946 ed., § 68 (R.S. 2765).

Aircraft are included within the protective terms of this section which permits aircraft to stop vessels but makes no provision for stopping aircraft.

Changes were made in phraseology. 81st Congress, House Report No. 557.

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Section 379 of title 10section 279 of title 10Pub. L. 114–328, div. A, title XII, § 1241(a)(2)130 Stat. 2497, referred to in subsec. (c)(2), was renumbered by , , .

Amendments

Pub. L. 116–283, § 8505(a)(7)(A)2021—Subsec. (a). , (B), substituted “individual” for “person” wherever appearing, and substituted “individuals” for “persons” in par. (2).

Pub. L. 116–283, § 8505(a)(7)Subsec. (b). , substituted “individual” for “person” wherever appearing, and substituted “individuals” for “persons” and “individual’s” for “person’s”.

Pub. L. 115–282section 637 of this title2018— renumbered as this section.

Pub. L. 114–1202016—Subsec. (c)(3). inserted “it is” before “any” in introductory provisions.

Pub. L. 111–2812010—Subsec. (c)(3). added par. (3).

Pub. L. 108–293, § 205(e)(1)2004—, substituted “indemnity” for “immunity” in section catchline.

Pub. L. 108–293, § 205(a)Subsec. (a). , designated existing provisions as par. (1), substituted “subject to paragraph (2),” for “after a gun has been fired by the authorized vessel or authorized aircraft as a warning signal,”, and added par. (2).

Pub. L. 108–293, § 205(b)Subsec. (c). , inserted “or” after the semicolon at end of par. (1), inserted “or military aircraft” after “surface naval vessel” and substituted a period for “; or” in par. (2), and struck out par. (3) which read as follows: “subject to subsection (d), it is a naval aircraft that has one or more members of the Coast Guard on board and is operating from a surface naval vessel described in paragraph (2).”

Pub. L. 108–293, § 205(c)Subsec. (d). , struck out subsec. (d) which related to inclusion of naval aircraft as authorized aircraft for purposes of this section.

Pub. L. 106–65, § 1022(a)1999—Subsec. (c)(3). , added par. (3).

Pub. L. 106–65, § 1022(b)Subsec. (d). , added subsec. (d).

Pub. L. 100–6901988— substituted “immunity for firing at or into vessel” for “immunity of Coast Guard officer” in section catchline, and amended text generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows:

“(a) Whenever any vessel liable to seizure or examination does not bring-to, on being ordered to do so or on being chased by any Coast Guard vessel or aircraft which has displayed the ensign, pennant, or other identifying insignia prescribed for vessels or aircraft of the Coast Guard, the person in command or in charge of such Coast Guard vessel or such Coast Guard aircraft may, after a gun has been fired by the Coast Guard vessel or aircraft as a warning signal, fire at or into such vessel which does not bring-to.

“(b) The person in command of such Coast Guard vessel or such Coast Guard aircraft and all persons acting by or under his direction shall be indemnified from any penalties or actions for damages for so doing. If any person is killed or wounded by such firing, and the person in command of the Coast Guard vessel or aircraft or any person acting pursuant to his orders is prosecuted or arrested therefor, he shall be forthwith admitted to bail.”