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Title 46 — ShippingRelease 119-83

§70118 Enforcement by State and Local Officers

Title 46 › Subtitle Subtitle VII— Security and Drug Enforcement › Chapter 701— PORT SECURITY › Subchapter I— GENERAL › § 70118

Last updated Apr 18, 2026|Official source

Summary

State or local officers who enforce state criminal laws can arrest someone for breaking Coast Guard security or safety zone rules under sections 70051, 70116(b), or section 10(d) of the Deepwater Port Act of 1974 (33 U.S.C. 1509(d)) only if the offense is a felony and the officer reasonably believes the person committed or is committing it. These arrest powers add to any other powers the officers have and do not let them act beyond what state law allows.

Full Legal Text

Title 46, §70118

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(a)Any State or local government law enforcement officer who has authority to enforce State criminal laws may make an arrest for violation of a security zone regulation prescribed under section 70051 or security or safety zone regulation under section 70116(b) or a safety zone regulation prescribed under section 10(d) of the Deepwater Port Act of 1974 (33 U.S.C. 1509(d)) by a Coast Guard official authorized by law to prescribe such regulations, if—
(1)such violation is a felony; and
(2)the officer has reasonable grounds to believe that the person to be arrested has committed or is committing such violation.
(b)The provisions of this section are in addition to any power conferred by law to such officers. This section shall not be construed as a limitation of any power conferred by law to such officers, or any other officer of the United States or any State. This section does not grant to such officers any powers not authorized by the law of the State in which those officers are employed.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

A prior section 70118 was renumbered section 70117 of this title and subsequently repealed. Another prior section 70118 was renumbered section 70121 of this title.

Amendments

2025—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 119–60 substituted “section 70051” for “section 1 of title II of the Act of June 15, 1917 (chapter 30; 50 U.S.C. 191)” and “section 70116(b)” for “section 7(b) of the Ports and Waterways Safety Act (33 U.S.C. 1226(b))”. 2008—Pub. L. 110–181 repealed Pub. L. 109–304, § 15(33)(A). See 2006 Amendment note below. 2006—Pub. L. 109–304, § 15(33)(A), which directed renumbering identical to that made by Pub. L. 109–241, was repealed by Pub. L. 110–181. See Amendment note and

Construction

of 2006 Amendment note below. Pub. L. 109–241 renumbered section 70119 of this title, as added by Pub. L. 108–293, § 801(a), as this section.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Construction

of 2006 AmendmentProvisions of Pub. L. 109–304 repealed by section 3529(c)(1) of Pub. L. 110–181 to be treated as if never enacted, see section 3529(c)(2) of Pub. L. 110–181, set out as a note under section 9504 of Title 26, Internal Revenue Code.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

46 U.S.C. § 70118

Title 46 — Shipping

Last Updated

Apr 18, 2026

Release point: 119-83