PENALTIES AND LIABILITY FOR MAKING A FALSE DISTRESS REPORT.

SEC. 401. PENALTIES AND LIABILITY FOR MAKING A FALSE DISTRESS REPORT.Section 88 of title 14, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: “(c) An individual who knowingly and willfully communicates a false distress message to the Coast Guard or causes the Coast Guard to attempt to save lives and property when no help is needed is— “(1) guilty of a class D felony; “(2) subject to a civil penalty of not more than $5,000; and “(3) liable for all costs the Coast Guard incurs as a result of the individual’s action.”.