{"data":{"id":"us/46-u.s.c.-10508","jurisdiction":"us","citation":"46 U.S.C. § 10508","heading":"General penalties","body":"(a) A master who carries a seaman on a voyage without first making the agreement required by section 10502 of this title shall pay to the seaman the highest wage that was paid for a similar voyage within the 3 months before the time of engagement at the port or place at which the seaman was engaged. A seaman who has not signed an agreement is not bound by the applicable regulations, penalties, or forfeitures. (b) A master engaging a seaman in violation of this chapter or a regulation prescribed under this chapter is liable to the United States Government for a civil penalty of not more than $5,000. The vessel also is liable in rem for the penalty.","path":["Title 46—SHIPPING","CHAPTER 105—COASTWISE VOYAGES"],"source_url":"https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/103/xml_usc46@119-103.zip","current_through":"Public Law 119-103 (09/02/2026)","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-10T06:00:50Z","sha256":"ea7c8a5e1bbfe8fd1fbce8c4d405e919789829c81a205b85a6098f611d297c27","source_id":"us","stale":true,"prev":"us/46-u.s.c.-10507","next":"us/46-u.s.c.-10509"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}