USCGFinal Rule

Civil Monetary Penalty Adjustments for Inflation

TransportationEnvironmentFinance & Banking

Summary

The U.S. Coast Guard is adjusting the dollar amounts of fines and penalties it can issue to account for inflation, so that penalties keep up with rising costs over time. This means violators of maritime safety and environmental rules may face higher financial penalties than they did previously.

Key Points

  • 1The Coast Guard updates its penalty amounts annually to match inflation, ensuring fines remain meaningful as the dollar loses purchasing power
  • 2Penalties for violations of maritime safety, environmental protection, and boating regulations will increase based on inflation rates
  • 3Businesses and individuals operating vessels or engaged in maritime activities may face higher financial consequences for breaking Coast Guard rules
  • 4This is a routine administrative adjustment that makes penalties comparable to what they would have been worth in previous years
  • 5The changes take effect after publication and apply to violations going forward

Key Dates

Published

January 2, 2025

This summary is for informational purposes only. It may not capture all nuances of the regulation. Always refer to the official text for authoritative information.

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