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Title 16 — ConservationRelease 119-73not60

§727 Powers of Employees of Department of the Interior

Title 16 › Chapter 8— UPPER MISSISSIPPI RIVER NATIONAL WILDLIFE AND FISH REFUGE › § 727

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

Employees of the Department of the Interior who the Secretary allows to enforce these rules can arrest people they see breaking the rules without a warrant. They can also carry out warrants, and they can search places if a judge or magistrate issues a search warrant after sworn evidence shows probable cause. If those employees or marshals find wildlife, plants, nests or eggs, or gear like guns, fishing equipment, or boats used against the rules, they must seize and hold them with whoever the Secretary names. The seizure is reported to the U.S. attorney for forfeiture either after a conviction under section 730 or by a libel in rem case. Those court cases follow admiralty-style rules, but either side can ask for a jury if the value is more than $20. If no forfeiture case starts in a reasonable time, the U.S. attorney must notify the custodian and the items are returned.

Full Legal Text

Title 16, §727

Conservation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Any employee of the Department of the Interior authorized by the Secretary of the Interior to enforce the provisions of this chapter (1) shall have power, without warrant, to arrest any person committing in the presence of such employee a violation of this chapter or of any regulation made pursuant to this chapter, and to take such person immediately for examination or trial before an officer or court of competent jurisdiction, (2) shall have power to execute any warrant or other process issued by an officer or court of competent jurisdiction to enforce the provisions of this chapter or regulations made pursuant thereto, and (3) shall have authority, with a search warrant issued by an officer or court of competent jurisdiction to make a search in accordance with the terms of such warrant. Any judge of a court established under the laws of the United States, or any United States magistrate judge may, within his respective jurisdiction, upon proper oath or affirmation showing probable cause, issue warrants in all such cases.
(b)All birds, animals, fish, or parts thereof captured, injured, or killed, and all flowers, plants, trees, and other natural growths, and nests and eggs of birds removed, and all implements or paraphernalia, including guns, fishing equipment, and boats used or attempted to be used contrary to the provisions of this chapter or any regulations made pursuant thereto, shall, when found by such employee or by any marshal or deputy marshal, be summarily seized by him and placed in the custody of such persons as the Secretary of the Interior may by regulation prescribe.
(c)A report of the seizure shall be made to the United States attorney for the judicial district in which the seizure is made, for forfeiture either (1) upon conviction of the offender under section 730 of this title, or (2) by proceedings by libel in rem. Such libel proceedings shall conform as near as may be to civil suits in admiralty, except that either party may demand trial by jury upon any issue of fact when the value in controversy exceeds $20. In case of a jury trial the verdict of the jury shall have the same effect as the finding of the court upon the facts. Libel proceedings shall be at the suit and in the name of the United States. If such forfeiture proceedings are not instituted within a reasonable time, the United States attorney shall give notice thereof, and the custodian shall thereupon release the articles seized.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Change of Name

“United States magistrate judge” substituted for “United States magistrate” in subsec. (a) pursuant to section 321 of Pub. L. 101–650, set out as a note under section 631 of Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure. Previously, “United States magistrate” substituted in subsec. (a) for “United States commissioner” pursuant to Pub. L. 90–578. See chapter 43 (§ 631 et seq.) of Title 28.

Executive Documents

Transfer of Functions

For transfer of certain

Enforcement

functions of Secretary or other official in Department of the Interior under this chapter to Federal Inspector, Office of Federal Inspector for the Alaska Natural Gas Transportation System, and subsequent transfer to Secretary of Energy, then to Federal Coordinator for Alaska Natural Gas Transportation Projects, see

Transfer of Functions

note set out under section 725 of this title.

Transfer of Functions

of Secretary of Agriculture and Secretary of Commerce to Secretary of the Interior by Reorg. Plan No. II of 1939, see

Transfer of Functions

note set out under section 723 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

16 U.S.C. § 727

Title 16 — Conservation

Last Updated

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60