18 USC § 1261 - Enforcement, regulations, and scope

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t18/s1261"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "18 USC § 1261 - Enforcement, regulations, and scope"
title_number: 18
title_name: "CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE"
section_number: "1261"
section_name: "Enforcement, regulations, and scope"
chapter_number: 59
chapter_name: "LIQUOR TRAFFIC"
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. 761; May 24, 1949, ch. 139, § 31, 63 Stat. 94; Pub. L. 107–273, div. B, title IV, § 4004(b), Nov. 2, 2002, 116 Stat. 1812; Pub. L. 107–296, title XI, § 1112(g), Nov. 25, 2002, 116 Stat. 2276.)"
---


# § 1261. Enforcement, regulations, and scope

**1** [^1] The Attorney General—

So in original. There is no subsec. (b).

**(1)** shall enforce the provisions of this chapter; and

**(2)** has the authority to issue regulations to carry out the provisions of this chapter.

---

**Source Credit**: (June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 761; May 24, 1949, ch. 139, § 31, 63 Stat. 94; Pub. L. 107–273, div. B, title IV, § 4004(b), Nov. 2, 2002, 116 Stat. 1812; Pub. L. 107–296, title XI, § 1112(g), Nov. 25, 2002, 116 Stat. 2276.)

### Historical and Revision Notes

### 1948 Act

Based on sections 222, 223(b), 225 and 226 of title 27, U.S.C., 1940 ed., Intoxicating Liquors (, §§ 5, 10, , 1930).

Changes were made in phraseology and arrangement.

### 1949 Act

This section [section 31] corrects a typographical error in , U.S.C.

## Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2002—, which directed amendment of subsec. (a) generally, was executed by amending text of section generally to reflect the probable intent of Congress and the amendment by , see below. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “The Secretary of the Treasury shall enforce the provisions of this chapter. Regulations to carry out its provisions shall be prescribed by the Commissioner of Internal Revenue with the approval of the Secretary of the Treasury.”

struck out subsec. (a) designation and subsec. (b) which read as follows: “This chapter shall not apply to the Canal Zone.”

1949—Subsec. (b). Act , substituted subsection designation “(b)” for “(d)”.

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 2002 Amendment

Amendment by  effective 60 days after , see , set out as an Effective Date note under , Domestic Security.