Violating FAA Ban On Galaxy Note 7 Means $180K Fine And Jail Time

Samsung’s exploding Galaxy Note 7 phones has finally landed the company in hot water with U.S. government officials. The U.S. Department of Transportation and Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) banned the device for good. Just to make sure that everyone understands the agency means business, violating the ban can result in a fine worth $179,933. For certain offenders, 10 years’ worth of jail time is also on the table.

Thanks to several incidents of the smartphone catching on fire, with one happening on a plane with passengers on board, the U.S. government has officially blacklisted the Galaxy Note 7 from flights of any kind. Flouting the ban has now become a Federal crime as well, Tech Times reports, with some really heavy penalties waiting for offenders.

Before the second recall of the devices and the interim until replacements were sent to users, flights had discouraged the use of the Note 7 on flights. At the time, passengers were still allowed to have the device on their person. They just weren’t allowed to turn it on, charge it, or basically do anything with it.

Now, owners of the Note 7 are prohibited from bringing it, period. They cannot carry it on their person when boarding a plane, they cannot place it in their hand carry or checked baggage, and they cannot send it as air cargo. The full list of restrictions is listed on the order that was just passed.

The $179,933 fine also applies to each violation of the ban, which means that guilty parties can pay that amount several times over if they are proven to have disregarded the order on multiple occasions. For the worst offenders, criminal prosecution and the subsequent jail time worth up to 10 years might also take effect.

For those who even think about bringing their Note 7 handsets going forward, they will be prevented from boarding the plane if the device is discovered on their person. This is to ensure everyone’s safety during the flight.