Title 16 — ConservationRelease 119-73

§163 Jurisdiction by the United States; fugitives from justice

Title 16 › Chapter CHAPTER 1— - NATIONAL PARKS, MILITARY PARKS, MONUMENTS, AND SEASHORES › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER XX— - GLACIER NATIONAL PARK › § 163

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The United States has full legal control over the land inside Glacier National Park. Montana can still serve civil or criminal court papers inside the park for cases based on rights, debts, or crimes that happened in Montana but outside the park, and the state can tax people, businesses, their business rights, and property on park land. Federal laws that apply to places under U.S. control apply in the park, and fugitives hiding there are treated the same as fugitives found elsewhere in Montana.

Full Legal Text

Title 16, §163

Conservation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

Sole and exclusive jurisdiction is assumed by the United States over the territory embraced within the Glacier National Park, saving, however, to the State of Montana the right to serve civil or criminal process within the limits of the aforesaid park in suits or prosecution for or on account of rights acquired, obligations incurred, or crimes committed in said State but 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 park. 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 Montana.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Codification A provision accepting the act of the Montana 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. § 163

Title 16 — Conservation

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73