18 USC § 2234 - Authority exceeded in executing warrant

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t18/s2234"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "18 USC § 2234 - Authority exceeded in executing warrant"
title_number: 18
title_name: "CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE"
section_number: "2234"
section_name: "Authority exceeded in executing warrant"
chapter_number: 109
chapter_name: "SEARCHES AND SEIZURES"
part_number: "I"
part_name: "CRIMES"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-21"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 803; Pub. L. 104–294, title VI, § 601(a)(8), Oct. 11, 1996, 110 Stat. 3498; Pub. L. 107–273, div. B, title III, § 3002(a)(3), Nov. 2, 2002, 116 Stat. 1805.)"
---


# § 2234. Authority exceeded in executing warrant

Whoever, in executing a search warrant, willfully exceeds his authority or exercises it with unnecessary severity, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.

---

**Source Credit**: (June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 803; Pub. L. 104–294, title VI, § 601(a)(8), Oct. 11, 1996, 110 Stat. 3498; Pub. L. 107–273, div. B, title III, § 3002(a)(3), Nov. 2, 2002, 116 Stat. 1805.)

### Historical and Revision Notes

Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 631 (, title XI, § 21, ).

Minor changes were made in phraseology.

## Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2002— inserted “, or both” after “year”.

1996— substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $1,000”.