§212a. Policing of Capitol Buildings and Grounds; powers of Capitol Police; arrests by Capitol Police for crimes of violence; arrests by District of Columbia police

The Capitol Police shall police the United States Capitol Buildings and Grounds under the direction of the Capitol Police Board, consisting of the Sergeant at Arms of the United States Senate, the Sergeant at Arms of the House of Representatives, and the Architect of the Capitol, and shall have the power to enforce the provisions of sections 193a to 193m, 212a, 212a–2, and 212b of this title ¹ and regulations promulgated under section 212b of this title, and to make arrests within the United States Capitol Buildings and Grounds for any violations of any law of the United States, of the District of Columbia, or of any State, or any regulation promulgated pursuant thereto: Provided, That for the fiscal year for which appropriations are made by this Act the Capitol Police shall have the additional authority to make arrests within the District of Columbia for crimes of violence, as defined in section 16 of title 18, committed within the Capitol Buildings and Grounds and shall have the additional authority to make arrests, without a warrant, for crimes of violence, as defined in section 16 of title 18, committed in the presence of any member of the Capitol Police performing official duties: Provided further, That the Metropolitan Police force of the District of Columbia are authorized to make arrests within the United States Capitol Buildings and Grounds for any violation of any such laws or regulations, but such authority shall not be construed as authorizing the Metropolitan Police force, except with the consent or upon the request of the Capitol Police Board, to enter such buildings to make arrests in response to complaints or to serve warrants or to patrol the United States Capitol Buildings and Grounds. For the purpose of this section, the word "grounds" shall include the House Office Buildings parking areas and that part or parts of property which have been or hereafter are acquired in the District of Columbia by the Architect of the Capitol, or by an officer of the Senate or the House, by lease, purchase, intergovernment transfer, or otherwise, for the use of the Senate, the House, or the Architect of the Capitol.

(July 31, 1946, ch. 707, §9, 60 Stat. 719 ; Pub. L. 93–198, title VII, §739(g)(4), (5), Dec. 24, 1973, 87 Stat. 829 ; Pub. L. 101–520, title I, §106, formerly §106(a), Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 2264 , renumbered §106 and amended Pub. L. 102–392, title III, §310, Oct. 6, 1992, 106 Stat. 1723 ; Pub. L. 102–397, title I, §103, Oct. 6, 1992, 106 Stat. 1950 .)

References in Text

This Act, referred to in text, probably means Pub. L. 101–520, Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 2254 , known as the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 1991, which amended this section generally. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Tables.

Amendments

1992-Pub. L. 102–392 and Pub. L. 102–397 amended directory language of Pub. L. 101–520 identically. See 1990 Amendment note below.

1990-Pub. L. 101–520, as amended by Pub. L. 102–392 and Pub. L. 102–397, amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section read as follows: "The Capitol Police shall police the United States Capitol Buildings and Grounds under the direction of the Capitol Police Board, consisting of the Sergeant at Arms of the United States Senate, the Sergeant at Arms of the House of Representatives, and the Architect of the Capitol, and shall have the power to enforce the provisions of sections 193a to 193m, 212a, 212a–2, and 212b of this title and regulations promulgated under section 212b of this title, and to make arrests within the United States Capitol Buildings and Grounds for any violations of any law of the United States, of the District of Columbia, or of any State, or any regulation promulgated pursuant thereto: Provided, That the Metropolitan Police force of the District of Columbia are authorized to make arrests within the United States Capitol Buildings and Grounds for any violations of any such laws or regulations, but such authority shall not be construed as authorizing the Metropolitan Police force, except with the consent or upon the request of the Capitol Police Board, to enter such buildings to make arrests in response to complaints or to serve warrants or to patrol the United States Capitol Buildings and Grounds. For the purpose of this section, the word 'grounds' shall include the House Office Building parking area."

1973-Pub. L. 93–198 inserted reference to violations of any law of the District of Columbia and struck out ", with the exception of the streets and roadways shown on the map referred to in section 193a of this title as being under the jurisdiction and control of the Commissioners of the District of Columbia" after "or to patrol the United States Capitol Buildings and Grounds".

Effective Date of 1992 Amendments

Section 103 of Pub. L. 102–397 provided that the amendment made by that section is effective Nov. 5, 1990.

Section 310 of Pub. L. 102–392 provided that the amendment made by that section is effective Nov. 5, 1990.

Effective Date of 1973 Amendment

Section 771 of Pub. L. 93–198 provided that the amendment made by Pub. L. 93–198 is effective on Jan. 2, 1975, if a majority of the registered qualified electors in the District of Columbia voting on the charter issue in the charter referendum accepted the charter set out in title IV of Pub. L. 93–198, Dec. 24, 1973, 87 Stat. 785 . The charter was approved by the voters on May 7, 1974.

Jurisdiction of United States Capitol Police Over Temporary Parking Areas During Construction of Judiciary Annex Building

Pub. L. 101–302, title III, §313, May 25, 1990, 104 Stat. 245 , provided that:

"(a) The supervision and jurisdiction of the United States Capitol Police shall extend over any area with respect to which the Architect of the Capitol has contracted, or otherwise entered into an agreement, for parking space in the Union Station parking garage to accommodate personnel of the United States Senate whose parking privileges have been affected by the construction of the Judiciary Annex Building, and over any area and streets necessary to carry out such supervision and to travel between such parking area and the United States Capitol Grounds.

"(b) In carrying out such supervision, the United States Capitol Police shall have, within any such area or street, jurisdiction, concurrent with that of the Metropolitan Police of the District of Columbia, to provide security for such personnel and property of such personnel and of the United States Senate within such area or street, and to make arrests for the violation of the laws and regulations of the United States and the District of Columbia.

"(c) The provisions of subsections (a) and (b) shall be effective only during the period that there is in effect a contract or other agreement as referred to in subsection (a)."

Extension of United States Capitol Police Supervision

Pub. L. 95–175, Nov. 14, 1977, 91 Stat. 1362 , provided: "That the supervision of the United States Capitol Police shall extend over that part or parts of the premises located at 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Southeast, Washington, District of Columbia, leased by the Office of Technology Assessment. In carrying out such supervision, the United States Capitol Police shall have within such part or parts jurisdiction, concurrent with that of the Metropolitan Police of the District of Columbia, to provide security for the personnel and property of the Office of Technology Assessment within such leased premises, and to make arrest therein for the violation of the laws and regulations of the United States and the District of Columbia."

Police Motor Vehicles Used by Instructor Personnel While on Assignment to Federal Law Enforcement Training Center

Pub. L. 95–26, title I, §113, May 4, 1977, 91 Stat. 87 , provided that: "The Chairman of the Capitol Police Board is authorized, subject to such conditions as he may impose, to authorize the assignment of a police motor vehicle for use by instructor personnel of the Capitol Police Force while assigned to the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center."

Section Referred to in Other Sections

This section is referred to in sections 136, 174b–1, 184a, 193h, 193i, 193l, 193m of this title.

¹ So in original. Citation probably should include references to sections 207a and 212a–3.