---
kind: "section"
citation: "18 U.S.C. § 913"
title: "18"
title_heading: "Crimes and Criminal Procedure"
number: "913"
heading: "Impersonator making arrest or search"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/18/913"
units:
  - "Part I — Crimes"
  - "Chapter 43 — False Personation"
---

# §913. Impersonator making arrest or search


[Whoever](/usc/18/921.md?p=a-1) falsely represents himself to be an [officer](/usc/18/202.md?p=c), agent, or [employee](/usc/18/202.md?p=c) of the [United States](/usc/18/229F.md?p=9), and in such assumed character arrests or detains any [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) or in any manner searches the [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5), buildings, or other property of any [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5), shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than three years, or both.


## Source credit

(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 742; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(H), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147.)

## Notes

### Historical and Revision Notes

Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 77a (Aug. 27, 1935, ch. 740, § 201, 49 Stat. 877).

Words “shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor” were omitted. (See definitive section 1 of this title.) Words “and upon conviction thereof” preceding “shall be” were omitted as surplusage since punishment cannot be imposed until conviction is secured.

Maximum imprisonment provision was changed from 1 year to 3 years so as to be consistent with sections 911 and 912 of this title, the latter having also been changed to 3 years. There is no sound reason why a uniform punishment should not be prescribed for the offenses defined in these three sections.

Changes were made in phraseology.

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1994—Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $1,000”.