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Title 18, Crimes and Criminal ProcedureRelease 119-102

§846 Additional Powers of the Attorney General

Title 18 › PART I — CRIMES › CHAPTER 40 — IMPORTATION, MANUFACTURE, DISTRIBUTION AND STORAGE OF EXPLOSIVE MATERIALS › § 846

Last updated Aug 21, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Attorney General can inspect any accident or fire site when there is reason to think explosives were involved. The Attorney General can go onto property where explosives were used, might have been used, or were found where they shouldn’t be. This does not reduce the investigative powers of other federal agencies. The FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives may investigate violations of subsections (d) through (i) of section 844. The Attorney General can create a national database of arson and suspected criminal misuse of explosives. Federal agencies must report their related information to the Attorney General under rules needed to run the database. The database may also include reports voluntarily sent by state and local authorities.

Full Legal Text

Title 18, §846

Crimes and Criminal Procedure, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Attorney General is authorized to inspect the site of any accident, or fire, in which there is reason to believe that explosive materials were involved, in order that if any such incident has been brought about by accidental means, precautions may be taken to prevent similar accidents from occurring. In order to carry out the purpose of this subsection, the Attorney General is authorized to enter into or upon any property where explosive materials have been used, are suspected of having been used, or have been found in an otherwise unauthorized location. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as modifying or otherwise affecting in any way the investigative authority of any other Federal agency. In addition to any other investigatory authority they have with respect to violations of provisions of this chapter, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, together with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, shall have authority to conduct investigations with respect to violations of subsection (d), (e), (f), (g), (h), or (i) of section 844 of this title.
(b)The Attorney General is authorized to establish a national repository of information on incidents involving arson and the suspected criminal misuse of explosives. All Federal agencies having information concerning such incidents shall report the information to the Attorney General pursuant to such regulations as deemed necessary to carry out the provisions of this subsection. The repository shall also contain information on incidents voluntarily reported to the Attorney General by State and local authorities.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2002—Pub. L. 107–296, § 1112(e)(3), substituted “Attorney General” for “Secretary” in section catchline. Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 107–296, § 1112(e)(3), substituted “Attorney General” for “Secretary” in two places. Pub. L. 107–296, § 1112(e)(2), substituted “the Federal Bureau of Investigation, together with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives” for “the Attorney General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, together with the Secretary”. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 107–296, § 1112(e)(3), substituted “Attorney General” for “Secretary” wherever appearing. 1996—Pub. L. 104–208 designated existing provisions as subsec. (a) and added subsec. (b).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 2002 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 107–296 effective 60 days after Nov. 25, 2002, see section 4 of Pub. L. 107–296, set out as an

Effective Date

note under section 101 of Title 6, Domestic Security. Authorization of Appropriations Pub. L. 104–208, div. A, title I, § 101(f) [title VI, § 654(b)], Sept. 30, 1996, 110 Stat. 3009–314, 3009–369, provided that: “There is authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this subsection [probably means “this section” which amended this section].” Certification of Explosives Detection Canines Pub. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(3) [title VI, § 626], Dec. 21, 2000, 114 Stat. 2763, 2763A–162, provided that: “Hereafter, the Secretary of the Treasury is authorized to establish scientific certification standards for explosives detection canines, and shall provide, on a reimbursable basis, for the certification of explosives detection canines employed by Federal agencies, or other agencies providing explosives detection services at airports in the United States.” Similar provisions were contained in the following prior appropriation acts: Pub. L. 106–58, title VI, § 630, Sept. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 473. Pub. L. 105–277, div. A, § 101(h) [title VI, § 640], Oct. 21, 1998, 112 Stat. 2681–480, 2681–526. Pub. L. 105–61, title VI, § 627, Oct. 10, 1997, 111 Stat. 1315. Pub. L. 104–208, div. A, title I, § 101(f) [title VI, § 653(a)], Sept. 30, 1996, 110 Stat. 3009–314, 3009–369.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

18 U.S.C. § 846

Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure

Last Updated

Aug 21, 2026

Release point: 119-102