A law enforcement officer or a designated civilian employee of the Metropolitan Police Department who seizes property in the execution of a search warrant shall cause it to be safely kept for use as evidence. No property seized shall be released or destroyed except in accordance with law and upon order of a court or of the United States attorney or Corporation Counsel for the District of Columbia or one of their assistants.
CREDIT(S)
(July 29, 1970, 84 Stat. 616, Pub. L. 91-358, title II, § 210(a); June 12, 1999, D.C. Law 12-284, § 8(a), 46 DCR 1328.)
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
Prior Codifications
1981 Ed., § 23-525.
1973 Ed., § 23-525.
Temporary Amendments of Section
Section 8(a) of D.C. Law 12-282 substituted “A law enforcement officer or a designated civilian employee of the Metropolitan Police Department” for “An officer or agent.”
Section 13(b) of D.C. Law 12-282 provided that the act shall expire after 225 days of its having taken effect.
Emergency Act Amendments
For temporary amendment of section, see § 8(a) of the Metropolitan Police Department Civilianization and Street Solicitation for Prostitution Emergency Amendment Act of 1998 (D.C. Act 12-428, August 6, 1998, 45 DCR 5884).
For temporary amendment of section, see § 8(a) of the Metropolitan Police Department Civilianization Legislative Review Emergency Amendment Act of 1998 (D.C. Act 12-506, November 10, 1998, 45 DCR 8139), and § 8(a) of the Metropolitan Police Department Civilianization Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 1999 (D.C. Act 13-13, February 8, 1999, 46 DCR 2333).
Legislative History of Laws
Law 12-282, the “Metropolitan Police Department Civilianization Temporary Amendment Act of 1998,” was introduced in Council and assigned Bill No. 12-709. The Bill was adopted on first and second readings on July 7, 1998, and September 22, 1998, respectively. Signed by the Mayor, it was assigned Act No. 12-492 and transmitted to both Houses of Congress for its review. D.C. Law 12-282 became effective on May 28, 1999.
Law 12-284, the “Metropolitan Police Department Civilianization Amendment Act of 1998,” was introduced in Council and assigned Bill No. 12-710, which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. The Bill was adopted on first and second readings on December 1, 1998, and December 15, 1998, respectively. Signed by the Mayor, it was assigned Act No. 12-613 and transmitted to both Houses of Congress for its review. D.C. Law 12-284 became effective on June 12, 1999.