
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
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[Laws in effect as of January 2, 2001]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 2, 2001 and January 28, 2002]
[CITE: 15USC261]

 
                      TITLE 15--COMMERCE AND TRADE
 
            CHAPTER 6--WEIGHTS AND MEASURES AND STANDARD TIME
 
                      SUBCHAPTER IX--STANDARD TIME
 
Sec. 261. Zones for standard time; interstate or foreign 
        commerce
        
    For the purpose of establishing the standard time of the United 
States, the territory of the United States shall be divided into nine 
zones in the manner provided in this section. Except as provided in 
section 260a(a) of this title, the standard time of the first zone shall 
be based on the mean solar time of the sixtieth degree of longitude west 
from Greenwich; that of the second zone on the seventy-fifth degree; 
that of the third zone on the ninetieth degree; that of the fourth zone 
on the one hundred and fifth degree; that of the fifth zone on the one 
hundred and twentieth degree; that of the sixth zone on the one hundred 
and thirty-fifth degree; that of the seventh zone on the one hundred and 
fiftieth degree; that of the eighth zone on the one hundred and sixty-
fifth degree; and that of the ninth zone on the one hundred and fiftieth 
meridian of longitude east from Greenwich..\1\ The limits of each zone 
shall be defined by an order of the Secretary of Transportation, having 
regard for the convenience of commerce and the existing junction points 
and division points of common carriers engaged in interstate or foreign 
commerce, and any such order may be modified from time to time. As used 
in sections 261 to 264 of this title, the term ``interstate or foreign 
commerce'' means commerce between a State, the District of Columbia, the 
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or any possession of the United States and 
any place outside thereof.
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    \1\ So in original.
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(Mar. 19, 1918, ch. 24, Sec. 1, 40 Stat. 450; Pub. L. 89-387, Sec. 4(a), 
Apr. 13, 1966, 80 Stat. 108; Pub. L. 97-449, Sec. 2(c), Jan. 12, 1983, 
96 Stat. 2439; Pub. L. 106-564, Sec. 1(a), Dec. 23, 2000, 114 Stat. 
2811.)


                               Amendments

    2000--Pub. L. 106-564, in first sentence, substituted ``nine zones'' 
for ``eight zones'' and, in second sentence, substituted ``; that of the 
eighth'' for ``; and that of the eighth'' and inserted before period at 
end ``; and that of the ninth zone on the one hundred and fiftieth 
meridian of longitude east from Greenwich.''
    1983--Pub. L. 97-449 substituted ``Secretary of Transportation'' for 
``Interstate Commerce Commission''.
    1966--Pub. L. 89-387 increased the number of time zones from five 
for the territory of continental United States to eight for the 
territory of the United States, inserted the ``exception phrase'', 
substituted ``solar'' for ``astronomical'' time, established the first 
zone on basis of the 60th degree of longitude west from Greenwich, 
redesignated as the second through the fifth zones based on the 75th, 
90th, 105th, and 120th degrees former zones one through four based on 
such degrees, established the sixth zone based on the 135th degree, 
redesignated as the seventh zone based on the 150th degree former fifth 
zone based on such degree, and established the eighth zone based on the 
165th degree, substituted ``interstate or foreign commerce'' for 
``commerce between the several States and and with foreign nations'' and 
defined ``interstate or foreign commerce''.


                               Short Title

    Act Mar. 19, 1918, ch. 24, 40 Stat. 450, as amended, which is 
classified to sections 261 to 264 of this title, is popularly known as 
the ``Calder Act''.


                                 Repeals

    Section 5 of act Mar. 19, 1918, repealed all conflicting acts and 
parts of acts.


                          District of Columbia

    Act Mar. 31, 1949, ch. 43, 63 Stat. 29, authorized the Board of 
Commissioners [now the Council of the District of Columbia] to establish 
daylight-saving time in the District of Columbia.


                         Return to Standard Time

    Act Sept. 25, 1945, ch. 388, 59 Stat. 537, provided, that, 
notwithstanding the provisions of act Jan. 20, 1942, ch. 7, 56 Stat. 9, 
which provided for war time, the standard time for each zone as provided 
for in sections 261 to 264 of this title should again become effective 
as of Sept. 30, 1945, at 2:00 A.M.

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in sections 260, 260a, 262, 266, 267 of 
this title.
