Title 16 — ConservationRelease 119-73
§117 Exclusive jurisdiction ceded to United States by Colorado; saving provisions; fugitives from justice
Title 16 › Chapter CHAPTER 1— - NATIONAL PARKS, MILITARY PARKS, MONUMENTS, AND SEASHORES › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER XII— - MESA VERDE NATIONAL PARK › § 117
Summary
The United States has sole control of Mesa Verde National Park. Colorado can still serve legal papers, prosecute cases about acts that happened outside the park, and tax people and businesses on park land. Park residents as of or after April 25, 1928 keep county voting rights. Federal laws apply, and fugitives in the park are treated the same as fugitives elsewhere in Colorado.
Full Legal Text
Title 16, §117
Conservation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Sole and exclusive jurisdiction is assumed by the United States over the territory embraced and included within the Mesa Verde National Park, saving, however, to the State of Colorado the right to serve civil or criminal process within the limits of the aforesaid park in suits or prosecutions for or on account of rights acquired, obligations incurred, or crimes committed outside of said park; and saving further to the said State the right to tax persons and corporations, their franchises and property on the lands included in said tracts: and saving also to the persons residing in said park now or after April 25, 1928, the right to vote at all elections held within the county or counties in which said tracts are situated. All the laws applicable to places under the sole and exclusive jurisdiction of the United States shall have force and effect in said park. All fugitives from justice taking refuge in said park shall be subject to the same laws as refugees from justice found in the State of Colorado.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Codification A provision accepting the act of the Colorado Legislature which ceded to the United States exclusive jurisdiction over the territory referred to in this section has been omitted as executed.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
16 U.S.C. § 117
Title 16 — Conservation
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73