[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 18USC3061]
TITLE 18--CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
PART II--CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
CHAPTER 203--ARREST AND COMMITMENT
Sec. 3061. Investigative powers of Postal Service personnel
(a) 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--
(1) serve warrants and subpoenas issued under the authority of
the United States;
(2) make arrests without warrant for offenses against the United
States committed in their presence;
(3) 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;
(4) carry firearms; and
(5) make seizures of property as provided by law.
(b) The powers granted by subsection (a) of this section shall be
exercised only--
(1) 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
(2) 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.
(Added Pub. L. 90-560, Sec. 5(a), Oct. 12, 1968, 82 Stat. 998; amended
Pub. L. 91-375, Sec. 6(j)(38)(A), Aug. 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 781; Pub. L.
100-690, title VI, Sec. 6251(a), Nov. 18, 1988, 102 Stat. 4362.)
Amendments
1988--Pub. L. 100-690 substituted ``Investigative powers of Postal
Service personnel'' for ``Powers of postal personnel'' in section
catchline, and amended text generally. Prior to amendment, text read as
follows:
``(a) Subject to subsection (b) of this section, officers and
employees of the Postal Service performing duties related to the
inspection of postal matters may, to the extent authorized by the Board
of Governors--
``(1) serve warrants and subpenas issued under the authority of
the United States;
``(2) make arrests without warrant for offenses against the
United States committed in their presence; and
``(3) 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.
``(b) The powers granted by subsection (a) of this section shall be
exercised only in the enforcement of laws regarding property of the
United States in the custody of the Postal Service, including property
of the Postal Service, the use of the mails, and other postal
offenses.''
1970--Pub. L. 91-375, Sec. 6(j)(38)(A)(i), substituted ``postal
personnel'' for ``postal inspectors'' in section catchline.
Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 91-375, Sec. 6(j)(38)(A)(ii), substituted
``officers and employees of the Postal Service performing duties related
to the inspection of postal matters may, to the extent authorized by the
Board of Governors--'' for ``postal inspectors may, to the extent
authorized by the Postmaster General--''.
Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 91-375, Sec. 6(j)(38)(A)(iii), substituted
``Postal Service, including property of the Postal Service,'' for
``postal service''.
Effective Date of 1970 Amendment
A
