(a) Every subpoena shall command the person to whom it is directed to appear at a specified time and place to give testimony or to produce books, papers, documents, or any other evidence, which shall be described with such particularity as necessary to identify what is desired.

(b) The investigating officer may issue subpoenas for the attendance of witnesses or for the production of books, papers, documents, or any other relevant evidence needed by the investigating officer or by the respondent.

(c) After charges have been served upon the respondent the Administrative Law Judge may, either on the Administrative Law Judge's own motion or the motion of the investigating officer or respondent, issue subpoenas for the attendance and the giving of testimony by witnesses or for the production of books, papers, documents, or any other relevant evidence.

Service of subpoenas issued on behalf of the respondent is the responsibility of the respondent. However, if the Administrative Law Judge finds that the respondent or respondent's counsel is physically unable to effect the service, despite diligent and bona fide attempts to do so, and if the Administrative Law Judge further finds that the existing impediment to the service of the subpoena is peculiarly within the authority of the Coast Guard to overcome, the Administrative Law Judge will have the subpoena delivered to an investigating officer participating in the case for the purpose of effecting service.

Any person subpoenaed to appear to produce evidence at a hearing may request that the subpoena be quashed or modified using the procedures in 33 CFR 20.609.

Upon application and for good cause shown, or upon its own initiative, the Coast Guard will seek judicial enforcement of subpoenas issued by investigating officers or Administrative Law Judges. This is done by making application to the United States District Court, through the office of the appropriate U.S. Attorney, to issue an order compelling the attendance of, and/or giving of testimony by, witnesses, or for the production of books, papers, documents, or any other relevant evidence.

(a) The person serving a subpoena shall make a written statement setting forth the date, time and manner of service and shall return such report with or on a copy of the subpoena to the investigating officer or Administrative Law Judge who issued it. In case of failure to make service of a subpoena, the person assigned to serve such subpoena shall make a written statement setting forth the reasons the subpoena was not served. The statement should be placed on the subpoena or attached to it and returned to the investigating office or Administrative Law Judge who issued the subpoena.

(b) When service of a subpoena is made by certified mail with return receipt to be signed by the addressee only, the person mailing the subpoena shall make a written statement on a copy of the subpoena or attached to it, setting forth the date, time and location of the post office where mailed, the post office number assigned thereto. If delivered, the receipt requested shall be returned, by the person receiving the receipt, to the investigating officer or Administrative Law Judge who issued the subpoena. In case the subpoena is not delivered, any information reported by the post office regarding non-delivery shall be given to the investigating officer or Administrative Law Judge who issued the subpoena.