[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 133 (Wednesday, July 12, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 35881]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-17063]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
19 CFR Part 162

RIN 1515-AB72


Search Warrants

AGENCY: U.S. Customs Service, Department of the Treasury.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: This document proposes to amend the Customs Regulations by 
removing a regulation limiting the authority of Customs officers to 
whom search warrants are issued. The current regulation restricts such 
officers from removing letters, documents and other records in certain 
circumstances. The regulation is inconsistent with the current state of 
the law.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before September 11, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Written comments (preferably in triplicate) may be submitted 
to the Regulations Branch, Office of Regulations and Rulings, U.S. 
Customs Service, 1301 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20229. 
Comments submitted may be inspected at the Regulations Branch, Office 
of Regulations and Rulings, 1099 14th Street NW., Suite 4000, 
Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lars-Erik Hjelm, Office of the Chief 
Counsel (202-927-6900).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Section 162.14, Customs Regulations (19 CFR 162.14) provides that 
Customs officers to whom a search warrant is issued may not remove 
letters, other documents and records, unless such letters, other 
documents and records are instruments of crime which are seized 
pursuant to a lawful arrest. The authority for this regulation, which 
has been in effect since at least 1915, is 19 U.S.C. 1595. Until 1986, 
section 1595 only authorized Customs to obtain warrants for 
merchandise.
    In 1986, section 1595 was expanded to allow Customs to seize ``* * 
* any document * * * which is evidence of a violation of * * * any law 
enforced or administered by the United States Customs Service.'' Public 
Law 99-570, October 27, 1986.
    Another statute indicating that the authority of Customs officers 
with warrants to seize documents has expanded is 19 U.S.C. 1589a(2). 
This statute makes it clear that Customs officers have authority for 
any warrant, including a Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure Rule 41 
warrant. A Rule 41 warrant can be issued for documents constituting 
evidence of crimes. See Public Law 98-573, October 30, 1984; Fed. R. 
Crim. Proc. Rule 41. The sources cited clearly indicate Congress' 
intent to provide Customs with the authority to search for and seize 
documentary evidence.
    The Supreme Court has made it clear that officers may seize 
incriminating evidence in plain view during the course of a lawful 
search. See United States v. Thompson, 495 F. 2d 165 (D.C. Cir. 1974); 
United States v. Michaelian, 803 F. 2d 1042 (9th Cir. 1986). Also see 
Horton v. California, 496 U.S. 128 (1990), in which the Supreme Court 
held that the Fourth Amendment does not prohibit the warrantless 
seizure of evidence in plain view even though the discovery of the 
evidence was not inadvertent. Although inadvertence is a characteristic 
of most legitimate plain-view searches, it is not a necessary 
condition.

Proposal

    Inasmuch as Sec. 162.14, Customs Regulations, no longer reflects 
the state of the law regarding the search and seizure authority of 
Customs officers, Customs intends to delete Sec. 162.14 from the 
Customs Regulations.

Comments

    Before adopting this proposal, consideration will be given to any 
written comments timely submitted to Customs. Comments submitted will 
be available for public inspection in accordance with the Freedom of 
Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552), Sec. 1.4, Treasury Department 
Regulations (31 CFR 1.4), and Sec. 103.11(b), Customs Regulations (19 
CFR 103.11(b)), on regular business days between the hours of 9:00 a.m. 
and 4:30 p.m. at the Regulations Branch, Suite 4000, 1099 14th Street 
NW., Washington, DC.

    Authority: This change is proposed under the authority of 5 
U.S.C. 301 and 19 U.S.C. 66, 1624.
The Regulatory Flexibility Act and Executive Order 12866
    Pursuant to the provisions of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 
U.S.C. 601 et seq.) and based upon the information set forth above, it 
is certified that the proposed change in the regulations will not have 
a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities. Accordingly, the proposed change is not subject to the 
regulatory analysis or other requirements of 5 U.S.C. 603 and 604.
    This document does meet the criteria for a ``significant regulatory 
action'' as specified in Executive Order 12866.

Drafting Information

    The principal author of this document was Janet L. Johnson, 
Regulations Branch. However, personnel from other offices participated 
in its development.
George J. Weise,
Commissioner of Customs.

    Approved: June 20, 1995.
John P. Simpson,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Treasury.
[FR Doc. 95-17063 Filed 7-11-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4820-02-P