18 U.S.C. § 3061 — Investigative powers of Postal Service personnel
submitted 58 years ago by Pub. L. 90-560 to r/title-18-CRIMES-AND-CRIMINAL-PROCEDURE · 513 words · no verdicts yet
This section gives designated Postal Service investigators specified warrant, arrest, firearm, and seizure powers. It limits those powers mainly to postal matters and separately authorizes Postal Service police officers to protect Postal Service property and people.
(a) Subject to subsection (b), Postal Inspectors and other Postal Service* agents designated by the Board of Governors to investigate Postal Service and mail crimes may (1) serve United States warrants and subpoenas; (2) arrest without a warrant for a United States offense committed in their presence; (3) arrest without a warrant for a Federal felony when they reasonably believe the person committed or is committing it; (4) carry firearms; and (5) seize property as law allows.
(b) They may use those powers only (1) to enforce laws about property held by or belonging to the Postal Service, use of the mails, and other postal offenses; and (2), as authorized by the Attorney General under an agreement with the Postal Service, to enforce other United States laws when the Attorney General finds violations harm Postal Service operations.
(c) (1) The Postal Service may employ police officers to protect Postal Service property, property under its charge or control, and people on that property, including outside the property as needed. (2) For that property, officers may enforce Federal laws and regulations protecting people and property, carry firearms, and arrest without a warrant for a United States offense committed in the officer’s presence or a Federal felony when the officer reasonably believes the person committed or is committing it. (3) To the extent Postal Service regulations allow, they may serve United States warrants and subpoenas and investigate on or off the property offenses against Postal Service property or people there. (4)(A) The Postmaster General may issue regulations needed to protect and administer Postal Service property and its people. The regulations may impose reasonable penalties within (B) and must be posted conspicuously. (B) A violator may be fined under this title, imprisoned for up to 30 days, or both.
Subject to subsection (b) of this section, Postal Inspectors and other agents of the United States Postal Service* designated by the Board of Governors to investigate criminal matters related to the Postal Service and the mails may—
serve warrants and subpoenas issued under the authority of the United States;
make arrests without warrant for offenses against the United States committed in their presence;
make arrests without warrant for felonies cognizable under the laws of the United States if they have reasonable grounds to believe that the person to be arrested has committed or is committing such a felony;
carry firearms; and
make seizures of property as provided by law.
The powers granted by subsection (a) of this section shall be exercised only—
in the enforcement of laws regarding property in the custody of the Postal Service, property of the Postal Service, the use of the mails, and other postal offenses; and
to the extent authorized by the Attorney General pursuant to agreement between the Attorney General and the Postal Service, in the enforcement of other laws of the United States, if the Attorney General determines that violations of such laws have a detrimental effect upon the operations of the Postal Service.
The Postal Service may employ police officers for duty in connection with the protection of property owned or occupied by the Postal Service or under the charge and control of the Postal Service, and persons on that property, including duty in areas outside the property to the extent necessary to protect the property and persons on the property.
With respect to such property, such officers shall have the power to—
enforce Federal laws and regulations for the protection of persons and property;
carry firearms; and
make arrests without a warrant for any offense against the Unites 1 States committed in the presence of the officer or for any felony cognizable under the laws of the United States if the officer has reasonable grounds to believe that the person to be arrested has committed or is committing a felony.
With respect to such property, such officers may have, to such extent as the Postal Service may by regulations prescribe, the power to—
serve warrants and subpoenas issued under the authority of the United States; and
conduct investigations, on and off the property in question, of offenses that may have been committed against property owned or occupied by the Postal Service or persons on the property.
As to such property, the Postmaster General may prescribe regulations necessary for the protection and administration of property owned or occupied by the Postal Service and persons on the property. The regulations may include reasonable penalties, within the limits prescribed in subparagraph (B), for violations of the regulations. The regulations shall be posted and remain posted in a conspicuous place on the property.
A person violating a regulation prescribed under this subsection shall be fined under this title, imprisoned for not more than 30 days, or both.
Source credit: (Added Pub. L. 90–560, § 5(a), Oct. 12, 1968, 82 Stat. 998; amended Pub. L. 91–375, § 6(j)(38)(A), Aug. 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 781; Pub. L. 100–690, title VI, § 6251(a), Nov. 18, 1988, 102 Stat. 4362; Pub. L. 109–435, title X, § 1001, Dec. 20, 2006, 120 Stat. 3254.)
- 1968Enacted · Pub. L. 90-560 · 82 Stat. 998
- 1970Amended · Pub. L. 91-375 · 84 Stat. 781
- 1988Amended · Pub. L. 100-690 · 102 Stat. 4362
- 2006Amended · Pub. L. 109-435 · 120 Stat. 3254
A history note hasn’t been published yet. The record shows enactment by Pub. L. 90-560 on 1968-10-12.
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