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Title 16, ConservationRelease 119-102

§117 Exclusive Jurisdiction Ceded to United States by Colorado; Saving Provisions; Fugitives From Justice

Title 16 › CHAPTER 1 — NATIONAL PARKS, MILITARY PARKS, MONUMENTS, AND SEASHORES › SUBCHAPTER XII — MESA VERDE NATIONAL PARK › § 117

Last updated Aug 21, 2026|Official source

Summary

The United States is the only government in charge of the land inside Mesa Verde National Park. Colorado can still serve civil or criminal court papers for matters tied to events outside the park, can tax people, companies, their franchises, and property on those lands, and people living in the park now or after April 25, 1928 keep the right to vote in county elections. Federal laws that apply to places under U.S. control also apply in the park, and fugitives who take refuge there are handled the same as fugitives found 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

Aug 21, 2026

Release point: 119-102