(R.S., D.C., § 404; June 11, 1878, 20 Stat. 107, ch. 180, § 6; Apr. 20, 1999, D.C. Law 12-261, § 1231, 46 DCR 3142.)
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
Prior Codifications
1981 Ed., § 4-147.
1973 Ed., § 4-147.
Legislative History of Laws
Law 12-261, the "Second Omnibus Regulatory Reform Amendment Act of 1998," was introduced into Council and assigned Bill No. 12-845, which was referred to the Committee of the Whole. The Bill was adopted on first and second readings on December 1, 1998, and December 15, 1998, respectively. Signed by the Mayor on December 31, 1998, it was assigned Act No. 12-615 and transmitted to both Houses of Congress for its review. D.C. Law 12-261 became effective on April 20, 1999.
Change in Government
This section originated at a time when local government powers were delegated to a Board of Commissioners of the District of Columbia (see Acts Relating to the Establishment of the District of Columbia and its Various Forms of Governmental Organization in Volume 1). Section 401 of Reorganization Plan No. 3 of 1967 (see Reorganization Plans in Volume 1) transferred all of the functions of the Board of Commissioners under this section to a single Commissioner. The District of Columbia Self-Government and Governmental Reorganization Act, 87 Stat. 818, § 711 (D.C. Code, § 1-207.11), abolished the District of Columbia Council and the Office of Commissioner of the District of Columbia. These branches of government were replaced by the Council of the District of Columbia and the Office of Mayor of the District of Columbia, respectively. Accordingly, and also pursuant to § 714(a) of such Act (D.C. Code, § 1-207.14(a)), appropriate changes in terminology were made in this section.
The Mayor of the District of Columbia may direct the Chief of Police to empower any member of the police force, whenever such member shall be in search of property feloniously obtained, or in search of suspected offenders, to examine the books of any pawnbroker or his business premises, or the business premises of any licensed vender or dealer in secondhand merchandise, or intelligence office keeper, or auctioneer of watches and jewelry, or suspected private banking house, or other doubtful establishment.
(R.S., D.C., § 405; June 11, 1878, 20 Stat. 107, ch. 180, § 6.)
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
Prior Codifications
1981 Ed., § 4-148.
1973 Ed., § 4-148.
Change in Government
This section originated at a time when local government powers were delegated to a Board of Commissioners of the District of Columbia (see Acts Relating to the Establishment of the District of Columbia and its Various Forms of Governmental Organization in Volume 1). Section 401 of Reorganization Plan No. 3 of 1967 (see Reorganization Plans in Volume 1) transferred all of the functions of the Board of Commissioners under this section to a single Commissioner. The District of Columbia Self-Government and Governmental Reorganization Act, 87 Stat. 818, § 711 (D.C. Code, § 1-207.11), abolished the District of Columbia Council and the Office of Commissioner of the District of Columbia. These branches of government were replaced by the Council of the District of Columbia and the Office of Mayor of the District of Columbia, respectively. Accordingly, and also pursuant to § 714(a) of such Act (D.C. Code, § 1-207.14(a)), appropriate changes in terminology were made in this section.
Miscellaneous Notes
Office of Major and Superintendent of Metropolitan Police abolished: See Historical and Statutory Notes following § 5-105.01.
Any member of the police force, when thereto authorized in writing by the Chief of Police, and having in his possession a pawnbroker's receipt or ticket, shall be allowed to examine the property purporting to be pawned or pledged, or deposited upon said receipt or ticket, in whosesoever possession said property may be; but no such property shall be taken from the possessor thereof without due process or authority of law.
(R.S., D.C., § 406.)
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
Prior Codifications
1981 Ed., § 4-149.
1973 Ed., § 4-149.
Miscellaneous Notes
Office of Major and Superintendent of Metropolitan Police abolished: See Historical and Statutory Notes following § 5-105.01.
Any willful interference with the Chief of Police, or with any member of the police force, by any of the persons named in § 5-117.01, while in official and due discharge of duty, shall be punishable as a misdemeanor.
(R.S., D.C., § 407.)
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
Prior Codifications
1981 Ed., § 4-150.
1973 Ed., § 4-150.
Miscellaneous Notes
Office of Major and Superintendent of Metropolitan Police abolished: See Historical and Statutory Notes following § 5-105.01.
Except as provided in § 22-1319, whoever shall make or cause to be made to the Metropolitan Police force of the District of Columbia, or to any officer or member thereof, a false or fictitious report of the commission of any criminal offense within the District of Columbia, or a false or fictitious report of any other matter or occurrence of which such Metropolitan Police force is required to receive reports, or in connection with which such Metropolitan Police force is required to conduct an investigation, knowing such report to be false or fictitious; or who shall communicate or cause to be communicated to such Metropolitan Police force, or any officer or member thereof, any false information concerning the commission of any criminal offense within the District of Columbia or concerning any other matter or occurrence of which such Metropolitan Police force is required to receive reports, or in connection with which such Metropolitan Police force is required to conduct an investigation, knowing such information to be false, shall be punished by a fine of not exceeding $300 or by imprisonment not exceeding 30 days.
(Dec. 27, 1967, 81 Stat. 739, Pub. L. 90-226, title VI, § 608; Oct. 17, 2002, D.C. Law 14-194, § 152, 49 DCR 5306.)
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
Prior Codifications
1981 Ed., § 4-151.
1973 Ed., § 4-150a.
Effect of Amendments
D.C. Law 14-194 substituted "Except as provided in § 22-1319, whoever" for "Whoever".
Legislative History of Laws
Law 14-194, the "Omnibus Anti-Terrorism Act of 2002", was introduced in Council and assigned Bill No. 14-373, which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. The Bill was adopted on first and second readings on April 9, 2002, and May 7, 2002, respectively. Signed by the Mayor on June 3, 2002, it was assigned Act No. 14-380 and transmitted to both Houses of Congress for its review. D.C. Law 14-194 became effective on October 17, 2002.
