2019 US Code
Title 18 - Crimes and Criminal Procedure
Part I - Crimes
Chapter 33 - Emblems, Insignia, and Names
Sec. 706 - Red Cross

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Citation 18 U.S.C. § 706 (2019)
Section Name §706. Red Cross
Section Text

Whoever wears or displays the sign of the Red Cross or any insignia colored in imitation thereof for the fraudulent purpose of inducing the belief that he is a member of or an agent for the American National Red Cross; or

Whoever, whether a corporation, association or person, other than the American National Red Cross and its duly authorized employees and agents and the sanitary and hospital authorities of the armed forces of the United States, uses the emblem of the Greek red cross on a white ground, or any sign or insignia made or colored in imitation thereof or the words "Red Cross" or "Geneva Cross" or any combination of these words—

Shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than six months, or both.

This section shall not make unlawful the use of any such emblem, sign, insignia or words which was lawful on the date of enactment of this title.

Source Credit

(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 732; May 24, 1949, ch. 139, §17, 63 Stat. 92; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, §330016(1)(E), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2146.)

Editorial Notes HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES 1948 ACT

Based on section 4 of title 36, Patriotic Societies and Observances (Jan. 5, 1905, ch. 23, §4, 33 Stat. 600; June 23, 1910, ch. 372, §1, 36 Stat. 604).

False personation provision in first part of section was omitted here and incorporated in section 917 of this title.

Words of punishment "$250" and "six months" were substituted for "$500" and "one year" respectively as more consonant with penalties provided for similar offenses in this chapter. (See sections 701, 704, 705 of this title.)

Punishment provisions were also changed to omit reference to "misdemeanor" in view of definitive section 1 of this title.

Words "upon conviction thereof" were omitted as surplusage, because punishment can only be imposed after conviction.

Changes were made in phraseology.

1949 ACT

This section [section 17] clarifies the wording of section 706 of title 18, U.S.C., to embrace all service sanitary units whether belonging to the Army, Navy, Air Force, or other branches of the Armed services. (See note to sec. 5 [of 1949 Act, set out in Legislative History note under section 244 of title 18]).

REFERENCES IN TEXT

The date of enactment of this title, referred to in text, means June 25, 1948.

AMENDMENTS

1994—Pub. L. 103–322 substituted "fined under this title" for "fined not more than $250" in third par.

1949—Act May 24, 1949, included all service sanitary units.

Publication Title United States Code, 2018 Edition, Supplement 1, Title 18 - CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
Category Bills and Statutes
Collection United States Code
SuDoc Class Number Y 1.2/5:
Contained Within Title 18 - CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
PART I - CRIMES
CHAPTER 33 - EMBLEMS, INSIGNIA, AND NAMES
Sec. 706 - Red Cross
Contains section 706
Date 2019
Laws In Effect As Of Date January 24, 2020
Positive Law Yes
Disposition standard
Statutes at Large References 33 Stat. 600
36 Stat. 604
62 Stat. 732
63 Stat. 92
108 Stat. 2146
Public Law References Public Law 103-322
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