Fortifications, harbor defenses, or defensive sea areas
Official text prohibited actmental stateif conditionpenaltylegal term
Whoever trespasses upon, injures, or destroys any of the works or property or material of any submarine mine or torpedo or fortification or harbor-defense system owned or constructed or in process of construction by the United States; or
Whoever interferes with the operation or use of any such submarine mine, torpedo, fortification, or harbor-defense system; or
Whoever knowingly, , or violates any duly authorized and promulgated order or regulation of the President governing persons or vessels within the limits of defensive sea areas, which the President, for purposes of national defense, may from time to time establish by executive order—
Shall be or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.
History: (June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 799 (PDF, 39 MB); Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, §330016(1)(K), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147 (PDF, 52 MB).)
Simplified explanation
It is a federal crime to willfully trespass on, damage, or destroy U.S. underwater mines, torpedoes, forts, or harbor-defense systems, or to interfere with their use. It is also a crime to knowingly violate presidential orders governing people or ships in defensive sea areas.