# 33 U.S.C. § 1: Regulations by Secretary of the Army for navigation of waters generally

> Federal · Statutes · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t33_s1

## Section

- **Citation:** 33 U.S.C. § 1
- **Heading:** Regulations by Secretary of the Army for navigation of waters generally
- **Jurisdiction:** Federal
- **Kind:** Statutes
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** April 17, 2026
- **Source:** Publisher's official text
- **Location:** Title 33—NAVIGATION AND NAVIGABLE WATERS > CHAPTER 1—NAVIGABLE WATERS GENERALLY > SUBCHAPTER I—GENERAL PROVISIONS

## Text

It shall be the duty of the Secretary of the Army to prescribe such regulations for the use, administration, and navigation of the navigable waters of the United States as in his judgment the public necessity may require for the protection of life and property, or of operations of the United States in channel improvement, covering all matters not specifically delegated by law to some other executive department. Such regulations shall be posted, in conspicuous and appropriate places, for the information of the public; and every person and every corporation which shall violate such regulations shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and, on conviction thereof in any district court of the United States within whose territorial jurisdiction such offense may have been committed, shall be punished by a fine not exceeding $500, or by imprisonment (in the case of a natural person) not exceeding six months, in the discretion of the court.

Any regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the Army in pursuance of this section may be enforced as provided in section 413 of this title , the provisions whereof are made applicable to the said regulations.

( Aug. 18, 1894, ch. 299, § 4 , 28 Stat. 362 ; June 13, 1902, ch. 1079 , §§ 6, 11, 32 Stat. 374 ; Aug. 8, 1917, ch. 49, § 7 , 40 Stat. 266 ; July 26, 1947, ch. 343 , title II, § 205(a), 61 Stat. 501 .)

## Nearby sections

- [33 U.S.C. § 1 Regulations by Secretary of the Army for navigation of waters generally](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t33_s1.md)
- [33 U.S.C. § 2 Regulations for navigation of South and Southwest Passes of Mississippi River; penalties](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t33_s2.md)
- [33 U.S.C. § 3 Regulations to prevent injuries from target practice](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t33_s3.md)
- [33 U.S.C. § 4 Water gauges on Mississippi River and tributaries](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t33_s4.md)
- [33 U.S.C. § 5 Abolition of tolls on Government canals, canalized rivers, etc.; expense of operation, repairs to and reconstruction of canals, etc.; Panama Canal excepted; levies by non-Federal interest](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t33_s5.md)
- [33 U.S.C. § 6 Free passage to harbor of Michigan City, Indiana](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t33_s6.md)
- [33 U.S.C. § 7 Use of Government iron pier in Delaware Bay](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t33_s7.md)
- [33 U.S.C. § 8 Toll free rivers in Alabama](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t33_s8.md)
- [33 U.S.C. § 9 Des Moines River as toll free](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t33_s9.md)
- [33 U.S.C. § 10 Waters in Louisiana Purchase as public highways](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t33_s10.md)
- [33 U.S.C. § 11 Authority for compact between Middle Northwest States as to jurisdiction of offenses committed on boundary waters](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t33_s11.md)
- [33 U.S.C. § 12 Port Arthur Ship Canal](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t33_s12.md)
- [33 U.S.C. § 21 Bayou Cocodrie, Louisiana](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t33_s21.md)
- [33 U.S.C. § 22 Bayou Meto, Arkansas](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t33_s22.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t33_s1. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.