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HRS §803-23

Searching a boat without a warrant and the fine for refusing

A sheriff or police officer can search a boat without a warrant if they show their official badge or papers to the boat's captain. The captain must let them on board. If the captain refuses, the captain can be fined.

The statute, as written — Searching vessels without warrant; penalty

It shall be lawful for the sheriff or a police officer, to search any vessel for deserters, criminals, or other offenders, without a warrant, on producing to the commanding officer of the vessel the sheriff's or police officer's commission or appointment as sheriff or police officer; and the commanding officer of a vessel who refuses any sheriff or police officer, access to the vessel or any part thereof shall be fined not less than $10 nor more than $1,000. [PC 1869, c 66, §12; RL 1925, §856; RL 1935, §1756; RL 1945, §10714; RL 1955, §255-14; am L 1963, c 85, §3; HRS §708-23; ren L 1972, c 9, pt of §1; gen ch 1985; am L 1989, c 211, §10; am L 1990, c 281, §11]
Read the official text at capitol.hawaii.gov ↗as published Jan 6, 2026our copy taken Aug 20, 2026

LawTrove is not legal advice. The summary above is a computer-generated restatement — the authoritative text is the official version linked above.