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U.S. Code as of:
01/19/04
Section 89. Law enforcement
(a) The Coast Guard may make inquiries, examinations,
inspections, searches, seizures, and arrests upon the high seas and
waters over which the United States has jurisdiction, for the
prevention, detection, and suppression of violations of laws of the
United States. For such purposes, commissioned, warrant, and petty
officers may at any time go on board of any vessel subject to the
jurisdiction, or to the operation of any law, of the United States,
address inquiries to those on board, examine the ship's documents
and papers, and examine, inspect, and search the vessel and use all
necessary force to compel compliance. When from such inquiries,
examination, inspection, or search it appears that a breach of the
laws of the United States rendering a person liable to arrest is
being, or has been committed, by any person, such person shall be
arrested or, if escaping to shore, shall be immediately pursued and
arrested on shore, or other lawful and appropriate action shall be
taken; or, if it shall appear that a breach of the laws of the
United States has been committed so as to render such vessel, or
the merchandise, or any part thereof, on board of, or brought into
the United States by, such vessel, liable to forfeiture, or so as
to render such vessel liable to a fine or penalty and if necessary
to secure such fine or penalty, such vessel or such merchandise, or
both, shall be seized.
(b) The officers of the Coast Guard insofar as they are engaged,
pursuant to the authority contained in this section, in enforcing
any law of the United States shall:
(1) be deemed to be acting as agents of the particular
executive department or independent establishment charged with
the administration of the particular law; and
(2) be subject to all the rules and regulations promulgated by
such department or independent establishment with respect to the
enforcement of that law.
(c) The provisions of this section are in addition to any powers
conferred by law upon such officers, and not in limitation of any
powers conferred by law upon such officers, or any other officers
of the United States.
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