
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 23, 2000 and December 4, 2001]
[CITE: 40USC212a-2]

 
             TITLE 40--PUBLIC BUILDINGS, PROPERTY, AND WORKS
 
                 CHAPTER 2--CAPITOL BUILDING AND GROUNDS
 
Sec. 212a-2. Protection of Members of Congress, officers of 
        Congress, and members of their families
        

(a) Authority of the Capitol Police

    Subject to the direction of the Capitol Police Board, the United 
States Capitol Police is authorized to protect, in any area of the 
United States, the person of any Member of Congress, officer of the 
Congress, as defined in section 60-1(b) of title 2, and any member of 
the immediate family of any such Member or officer, if the Capitol 
Police Board determines such protection to be necessary.

(b) Detail of police

    In carrying out its authority under this section, the Capitol Police 
Board, or its designee, is authorized, in accordance with regulations 
issued by the Board pursuant to this section, to detail, on a case-by-
case basis, members of the United States Capitol Police to provide such 
protection as the Board may determine necessary under this section.

(c) Arrest of suspects

    In the performance of their protective duties under this section, 
members of the United States Capitol Police are authorized (1) to make 
arrests without warrant for any offense against the United States 
committed in their presence, or for any felony 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 felony; and 
(2) to utilize equipment and property of the Capitol Police.

(d) Fines and penalties

    Whoever knowingly and willfully obstructs, resists, or interferes 
with a member of the Capitol Police engaged in the performance of the 
protective functions authorized by this section, shall be fined not more 
than $300 or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.

(e) Construction of provisions

    Nothing contained in this section shall be construed to imply that 
the authority, duty, and function conferred on the Capitol Police Board 
and the United States Capitol Police are in lieu of or intended to 
supersede any authority, duty, or function imposed on any Federal 
department, agency, bureau, or other entity, or the Metropolitan Police 
of the District of Columbia, involving the protection of any such 
Member, officer, or family member.

(f) ``United States'' defined

    As used in this section, the term ``United States'' means each of 
the several States of the United States, the District of Columbia, and 
territories and possessions of the United States.

(July 31, 1946, ch. 707, Sec. 9A, as added Pub. L. 97-143, Sec. 1(a), 
Dec. 29, 1981, 95 Stat. 1723.)

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in sections 136, 174b-1, 184a, 193h, 
193i, 193k, 193l, 193m, 212a of this title.
