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Title 2 — The CongressRelease 119-73

§1967 Law enforcement authority

Title 2 › Chapter CHAPTER 29— - CAPITOL POLICE › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER II— - POWERS AND DUTIES › § 1967

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Capitol Police officers may arrest people and enforce U.S. and D.C. laws in certain places and situations, but only under rules the Capitol Police Board makes and that the Committee on House Oversight of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate approve. They have authority in the District of Columbia on the U.S. Capitol Grounds for any violent crime. They can also act anywhere in D.C. if a violent crime happens in their presence while they are on duty, or if they need to stop an immediate threat to life or serious injury while on duty. They also have authority inside two specific areas near the Capitol that the law maps out by street boundaries. In the first mapped area they have general enforcement power. In the second mapped area they may act for violent crimes they see while on duty and to stop immediate threats while on duty. This does not reduce the Metropolitan Police Department’s authority in those places. “Crime of violence” uses the meaning given in 18 U.S.C. §16.

Full Legal Text

Title 2, §1967

The Congress — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Subject to such regulations as may be prescribed by the Capitol Police Board and approved by the Committee on House Oversight of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate, a member of the Capitol Police shall have authority to make arrests and otherwise enforce the laws of the United States, including the laws of the District of Columbia—
(1)within the District of Columbia, with respect to any crime of violence committed within the United States Capitol Grounds;
(2)within the District of Columbia, with respect to any crime of violence committed in the presence of the member, if the member is in the performance of official duties when the crime is committed;
(3)within the District of Columbia, to prevent imminent loss of life or injury to person or property, if the officer is in the performance of official duties when the authority is exercised;
(4)within the area described under subsection (b)(1); and
(5)within the area described under subsection (b)(2)—
(A)with respect to any crime of violence committed in the presence of the member, if the member is in the performance of official duties, as defined under such regulations, when the crime is committed; and
(B)to prevent imminent loss of life or injury to person or property, if the officer is in the performance of official duties, as defined under such regulations, when the authority is exercised.
(b)(1)The area referred to in subsection (a)(4) is that area bounded by the north curb of H Street from 3rd Street, N.W. to 7th Street, N.E., the east curb of 7th Street from H Street, N.E., to M Street, S.E., the south curb of M Street from 7th Street, S.E. to 1st Street, S.E., the east curb of 1st Street from M Street, S.E. to Potomac Avenue S.E., the southeast curb of Potomac Avenue from 1st Street, S.E. to South Capitol Street, S.W., the west curb of South Capitol Street from Potomac Avenue, S.W. to P Street, S.W., the north curb of P Street from South Capitol Street, S.W. to 3rd Street, S.W., and the west curb of 3rd Street from P Street, S.W. to H Street, N.W.
(2)The area referred to under subsection (a)(5) is that area bounded by the north curb of Constitution Avenue from 14th Street, N.W., to 3rd Street, N.W., the east curb of 3rd Street from Constitution Avenue, N.W., to Independence Avenue, S.W., the south curb of Independence Avenue from 3rd Street, S.W., to 14th Street, S.W., and the west curb of 14th Street from Independence Avenue, S.W., to Constitution Avenue, N.W.
(c)This section does not affect the authority of the Metropolitan Police force of the District of Columbia with respect to the area described in subsection (b).
(d)As used in this section, the term “crime of violence” has the meaning given that term in section 16 of title 18.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Codification Section was classified to section 212a–3 of former Title 40, prior to the enactment of Title 40, Public Buildings, Property, and Works, by Pub. L. 107–217, § 1, Aug. 21, 2002, 116 Stat. 1062.

Amendments

2003—Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 108–83, § 1003(a)(1)(A), struck out “and” after the semicolon. Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 108–83, § 1003(a)(1)(B), which directed the substitution of “under subsection (b)(1); and” for “in subsection (b) of this section.” was executed by making the substitution for language which read in the original “in subsection (b).”, to reflect the probable intent of Congress. Subsec. (a)(5). Pub. L. 108–83, § 1003(a)(1)(C), added par. (5). Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 108–83, § 1003(a)(2), designated existing provisions as par. (1) and added par. (2). 1996—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 104–186 substituted “House Oversight” for “House Administration”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Change of Name

Committee on House Oversight of House of Representatives changed to Committee on House Administration of House of Representatives by House Resolution No. 5, One Hundred Sixth Congress, Jan. 6, 1999.

Effective Date

of 2003 Amendment Pub. L. 108–83, title I, § 1003(c), Sept. 30, 2003, 117 Stat. 1022, provided that: “This section [amending this section and enacting provisions set out as a note under this section] shall take effect on the date on which the Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate and the Committee on House Administration of the House of Representatives approve

Regulations

prescribed by the Capitol Police Board for the sole implementation, execution and maintenance of the truck interdiction program.” [

Regulations

approved by Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate on Jan. 5, 2004, and by Committee on House Administration of the House of Representatives on Dec. 18, 2003.] Rule of

Construction

Pub. L. 108–83, title I, § 1003(b), Sept. 30, 2003, 117 Stat. 1022, provided that: “Nothing in the

Amendments

made by this section [amending this section] may be construed to limit the authority of the Capitol Police as in effect before the

Effective Date

of this section [see

Effective Date

of 2003 Amendment note set out above].”

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

2 U.S.C. § 1967

Title 2 — The Congress

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73