14 USC § 523 - Enforcement authority

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t14/s523"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "14 USC § 523 - Enforcement authority"
title_number: 14
title_name: "COAST GUARD"
section_number: "523"
section_name: "Enforcement authority"
chapter_number: 5
chapter_name: "FUNCTIONS AND POWERS"
subchapter_number: "II"
subchapter_name: "LIFE SAVING AND LAW ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITIES"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-03-26"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Added Pub. L. 111–281, title II, § 208(a), Oct. 15, 2010, 124 Stat. 2912, § 99; renumbered § 523, Pub. L. 115–282, title I, § 105(b), Dec. 4, 2018, 132 Stat. 4200.)"
---


# § 523. Enforcement authority

Subject to guidelines approved by the Secretary, members of the Coast Guard, in the performance of official duties, may—

**(1)** carry a firearm; and

**(2)** while at a facility (as defined in section 70101 of title 46)—

**(A)** make an arrest without warrant for any offense against the United States committed in their presence; and

**(B)** seize property as otherwise provided by law.

---

**Source Credit**: (Added Pub. L. 111–281, title II, § 208(a), Oct. 15, 2010, 124 Stat. 2912, § 99; renumbered § 523, Pub. L. 115–282, title I, § 105(b), Dec. 4, 2018, 132 Stat. 4200.)

## Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2018— renumbered  as this section.