The way slavery was enforced depends on the state in which you were in. In Virginia the laws focused more on fines and time allowed to work while in South Carolina it talked more about punishments for escaping slaves.
South Carolina established its slave code in 1712, with the following provisions: Any slave attempting to run away and leave the colony received the death penalty; Slaves were forbidden to leave the owner's property unless they obtained permission or were accompanied by a white person; Any slave who evaded capture for 20 days or more was to be publicly whipped for the first offense, branded with the letter R on the right cheek for the second offense, and lose one ear if absent for 30 days for the third offense, and castrated for the fourth offense; Owners refusing to abide by the slave code were fined and forfeited ownership of their slaves; Slave homes were searched every two weeks for weapons or stolen goods. Punishment for violations included loss of ears, branding, nose-slitting and death; No slave was allowed to work for pay, or to plant corn, peas, or rice; or to keep hogs, cattle, or horses; or to own or operate a boat; to buy or sell or wear clothes finer than Negro cloth.
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Virginia's slave code was revised in 1739 with the following amendments: No slave could be taught to write, work on Sunday or work more than 15 hours per day in summer, and 14 hours in winter; Willful killing of a slave exacted a fine of 700 pounds, and "passion" killing 350 pounds; The fine for concealing runaway slaves was $1,000 and a prison sentence of up to one year; A fine of $100 and six months in prison were imposed for employing any black or slave as a clerk, for selling or giving alcoholic beverages to slaves, and for teaching a slave to read and write; A fine of $100 and six months in prison were imposed for employing any black or slave as a clerk, for selling or giving alcoholic beverages to slaves, and for teaching a slave to read and write; Freeing a slave was forbidden, except by deed, and after 1820 only by permission of the legislature.
Generally in the north slave codes were less harsh but had similar rules. For example in the north you still couldn't sell alcohol to slaves and slaves couldn't leave their master’s land. The severity of the rules depended on location and who was the owner of the land.