Federal · Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal Procedure

18 U.S.C. § 3061: Investigative powers of Postal Service personnel

Civil

What this law says, in plain English

This statute defines the investigative and enforcement powers of Postal Service personnel and police officers, including authority to serve warrants, make arrests, carry firearms, and seize property in connection with postal and federal law enforcement.

Read the full statutory text
serve warrants and subpoenas issued under the authority of the United States; make arrests without warrant for offenses against the United States committed in their presence; make arrests without warrant for felonies cognizable under the laws of the United States if they have reasonable grounds to believe that the person to be arrested has committed or is committing such a felony; carry firearms; and make seizures of property as provided by law. in the enforcement of laws regarding property in the custody of the Postal Service, property of the Postal Service, the use of the mails, and other postal offenses; and to the extent authorized by the Attorney General pursuant to agreement between the Attorney General and the Postal Service, in the enforcement of other laws of the United States, if the Attorney General determines that violations of such laws have a detrimental effect upon the operations of the Postal Service. The Postal Service may employ police officers for duty in connection with the protection of property owned or occupied by the Postal Service or under the charge and control of the Postal Service, and persons on that property, including duty in areas outside the property to the extent necessary to protect the property and persons on the property. enforce Federal laws and regulations for the protection of persons and property; carry firearms; and make arrests without a warrant for any offense against the Unites 1 States committed in the presence of the officer or for any felony cognizable under the laws of the United States if the officer has reasonable grounds to believe that the person to be arrested has committed or is committing a felony. 1 So in original. Probably should be “United”. serve warrants and subpoenas issued under the authority of the United States; and conduct investigations, on and off the property in question, of offenses that may have been committed against property owned or occupied by the Postal Service or persons on the property. As to such property, the Postmaster General may prescribe regulations necessary for the protection and administration of property owned or occupied by the Postal Service and persons on the property. The regulations may include reasonable penalties, within the limits prescribed in subparagraph (B), for violations of the regulations. The regulations shall be posted and remain posted in a conspicuous place on the property. A person violating a regulation prescribed under this subsection shall be fined under this title, imprisoned for not more than 30 days, or both.

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This page is legal information, not legal advice. Code text is sourced from official publications and may lag amendments — always confirm at the official source linked above. Plain-English summaries and relationship data are AI-derived and reviewed on an ongoing basis; verify with a licensed attorney before acting.