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Title 40, Public Buildings, Property, and WorksRelease 119-110

§6307 Penalties

Title 40 › SUBTITLE II — PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND WORKS › PART C — FEDERAL BUILDING COMPLEXES › CHAPTER 63 — SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART, AND JOHN F. KENNEDY CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS › § 6307

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

Breaking the rules in sections 6302 or 6303, or a rule made under section 6304, can lead to a criminal penalty. A person may be fined under Title 18 of the U.S. Code, jailed for up to 60 days, or both. Cases like this are brought in the D.C. Superior Court by the U.S. Attorney or an Assistant U.S. Attorney. If the violation causes more than $100 in property damage, jail time can be up to five years. Those cases are handled in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia and usually start with an indictment. The government can instead use an information if the accused, after being told the charge and their rights, gives up the right to an indictment in open court.

Full Legal Text

Title 40, §6307

Public Buildings, Property, and Works, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)In General.—
(1)Penalty.—
A person violating section 6302 or 6303 of this title, or a regulation prescribed under section 6304 of this title, shall be fined under title 18, imprisoned for not more than 60 days, or both.
(2)Procedure.—
Prosecution for an offense under this subsection shall be in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, by information by the United States Attorney or an Assistant United States Attorney.
(b)Offenses Involving Property Damage Over $100.—
(1)Penalty.—
If in the commission of a violation described in subsection (a), property is damaged in an amount exceeding $100, the period of imprisonment for the offense may be not more than five years.
(2)Venue and procedure.—
Prosecution of an offense under this subsection shall be in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia by indictment. Prosecution may be on information by the United States Attorney or an Assistant United States Attorney if the defendant, after being advised of the nature of the charge and of rights of the defendant, waives in open court prosecution by indictment.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 630740:193s.Oct. 24, 1951, ch. 559, § 6, 65 Stat. 635. In subsection (a)(1), the words “fined under title 18” are substituted for “fined not more than $100” for consistency with chapter 227 of title 18. In subsection (a)(2), the words “Superior Court of the District of Columbia” are substituted for “Municipal Court for the District of Columbia” [subsequently changed to “District of Columbia Court of General Sessions” because of section 1 and 7 of the Act of July 8, 1963 (Public Law 88–60, 77 Stat. 77, 78)] because of section 155(a) of the District of Columbia Court Reorganization Act of 1970 (Public Law 91–358, 85 Stat. 570). In subsection (b)(1), the words “the amount of the fine for the offense may be not more than $5,000” are omitted for consistency with chapter 227 of title 18.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

40 U.S.C. § 6307

Title 40, Public Buildings, Property, and Works

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110