{"data":{"id":"us/46-cfr-221.63","jurisdiction":"us","citation":"46 CFR 221.63","heading":"Investigation.","body":"(a) When the Vessel Transfer Office obtains information that a Person may have violated a statute or regulation for which a civil penalty may be assessed under this subpart, that Officer may investigate the matter and decide whether there is sufficient evidence to establish a prima facie case that a violation occurred.\n(b) If that Officer decides there is a prima facie case, then that Officer may enter into a stipulation with the Party in accordance with § 221.67 of this subpart, or may refer the matter directly to a Hearing Officer for procedures in accordance with § 221.73 to 221.89 of this subpart.","path":["Title 46—Shipping","CHAPTER II—MARITIME ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION","SUBCHAPTER B—REGULATIONS AFFECTING MARITIME CARRIERS AND RELATED ACTIVITIES","PART 221—REGULATED TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING DOCUMENTED VESSELS AND OTHER MARITIME INTERESTS","Subpart E—Civil Penalties"],"source_url":"https://www.ecfr.gov/api/versioner/v1/full/2026-08-25/title-46.xml","current_through":"2026-08-25","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-27T02:26:22Z","sha256":"19f7c6b64e9da4b0ec14d50caaf4adf969177e1255910a74b0b63da93f853a8e","source_id":"us-cfr","stale":true,"prev":"us/46-cfr-221.61","next":"us/46-cfr-221.65"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}