MMPA Legal & Wildlife Protection Violation Analyzer

Incident Telemetry & Spatial Buffer Model

16 U.S.C. § 1375(b)

NOAA Wildlife Buffer & Interaction Vector (Drag actor or adjust distance)

Level A Zone (< 5 yds)

Level B Disruption (< 50 yds)

NOAA Safe Buffer (50+ yds)

Proximity Distance to Marine Mammal: 0 Yards

Mens Rea / Culpability Standard

Direct Physical Contact / Injury Potential

Vessel / Drone Encroachment Factor

Commercial / For-Profit Tour Prior Record / Repeat Violator

Level A Criminal

Max Statutory Criminal Fine

$100,000

Per criminal count (§ 1375(b))

Max Federal Imprisonment

1 Year

Federal custody term

NOAA Civil Assessment Max

$34,401

Civil penalty under § 1375(a)(1)

Veterinary Restitution Obligation

$5,000 – $25,000

Marine mammal care & rehab

Statutory Class	Harassment Tier	Burden of Proof	Primary Jurisdiction
16 U.S.C. § 1375(b) Criminal Penalty	Level A (Physical assault / injury potential)	Beyond Reasonable Doubt (Knowing violation)	DOJ / Federal District Court
16 U.S.C. § 1375(a) Civil Administrative	Level B (Behavioral disruption / flush)	Preponderance of Evidence (Strict/Negligent)	NOAA Office of General Counsel
Compliant Zone 50+ Yard Buffer	No Take / Compliant Observation	N/A (Safe distance maintained)	San Diego Park Ranger / NOAA

Generated Compliance Record (Structured JSON Dossier)