§ 706. — Red Cross.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 18USC706]
TITLE 18--CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
PART I--CRIMES
CHAPTER 33--EMBLEMS, INSIGNIA, AND NAMES
Sec. 706. Red Cross
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.
(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 732; May 24, 1949, ch. 139, Sec. 17,
63 Stat. 92; Pub. L. 103-322, title XXXIII, Sec. 330016(1)(E), Sept. 13,
1994, 108 Stat. 2146.)
Historical and Revision Notes
1948 Act
Based on section 4 of title 36, Patriotic Societies and Observances
(Jan. 5, 1905, ch. 23, Sec. 4, 33 Stat. 600; June 23, 1910, ch. 372,
Sec. 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.
Section Referred to in Other Sections
This section is referred to in title 15 section 1125.
