# How do I interpret fines in the Code of Federal Regulations?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-interpret-fines-in-the-code-of-federal-regulations/542524
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [June 9, 2010, 10:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-interpret-fines-in-the-code-of-federal-regulations/542524 "2010-06-09T10:51:12Z")
**Posts on this page:** 3
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)
#### Post date: [June 9, 2010, 10:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-interpret-fines-in-the-code-of-federal-regulations/542524/1 "2010-06-09T10:51:12Z")
I’m looking at a US government document codifying regulations for the National Organic Program. Specifically, [one part](http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr;sid=5830af196088461fabd83f24dfaaa8bb;rgn=div5;view=text;node=7%3A3.1.1.9.31;idno=7;cc=ecfr#7:3.1.1.9.31.7.345.20) says (bolding mine):
> [@](#):
>
> (g) Violations of Act. In addition to suspension or revocation, any certified operation that:
>
> (1) Knowingly sells or labels a product as organic, except in accordance with the Act, shall be subject to a civil penalty of not more than the **amount specified in §3.91(b)(1)(xxxvii) of this title”** per violation.
What the heck does **§3.91(b)(1)(xxxvii)** mean? As far as I can tell, there is no section 3.91 in that document or in the overall CFR… 😕
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### Author:  [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)
#### Post date: [June 9, 2010, 11:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-interpret-fines-in-the-code-of-federal-regulations/542524/2 "2010-06-09T11:18:44Z")
The trick is that the CFR’s first-level breakdown is into Titles, many of which are broken into Parts and Subparts. You were looking at a Subpart of Title 7, Agriculture. You needed to go to the full Title 7, then find Sec. 3.91 and leaf down it to the relevant penalty, which is as follows:
> [@7 CFR Sec. 3.91](#):
>
> (xxxvii) Civil penalty for knowingly labeling or selling a product
> as organic except in accordance with the Organic Foods Production Act of
> 1990, codified at 7 U.S.C. 6519(a), has a maximum of $11,000.
Relevant section is [here](http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/cfr_2010/janqtr/7cfr3.91.htm).
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### Author:  [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)
#### Post date: [June 9, 2010, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-interpret-fines-in-the-code-of-federal-regulations/542524/3 "2010-06-09T18:11:57Z")
Ahhh. Beautiful answer.
I feel enlightened. Thank you!