{"data":{"id":"us-dc/d.c.-code-23-546","jurisdiction":"us-dc","citation":"D.C. Code § 23-546","heading":"Applications for authorization or approval of interception of wire or oral communications.","body":"(a)\nThe United States attorney may authorize, in writing, any investigative or law enforcement officer to make application to a court for an order authorizing the interception of wire or oral communications.\n\n(b)\nThe United States attorney may authorize, in writing, any investigative or law enforcement officer to make application to a court for an order of approval of the previous interception of any wire or oral communication, when the contents of such communication —\n(1)\nrelate to an offense other than that specified in an order of authorization;\n(2)\nwere intercepted in an emergency situation; or\n(3)\nwere intercepted in an emergency situation and relate to an offense other than that contemplated at the time the interception was made.\n\n(c)\nAn application for an order of authorization (as provided in subsection (a) of this section) or of approval (as provided in paragraph (2) of subsection (b) of this section) may be authorized only when the interception of wire or oral communications may provide or has provided evidence of the commission of or a conspiracy to commit any of the following offenses:\n(1)\n\n        \n          \n            Offense:\n            Specified in -\n          \n          \n            Arson\n            sections 820, 821 (D.C. Code, secs. 22-301, 22-302).\n          \n          \n            Burglary\n            section 823 (D.C. Code, sec. 22-801).\n          \n          \n            Destruction of property of value in excess of $1000\n            section 848 (D.C. Code, sec. 22-303).\n          \n          \n            Gambling\n            sections 863, 866, 869e (D.C. Code, secs. 22-1701, 22-1705, 22-1713).\n          \n          \n            Kidnapping\n            section 812 (D.C. Code, sec. 22-2001).\n          \n          \n            Murder\n            sections 798, 800 (D.C. Code, secs. 22-2101, 22-2103).\n          \n          \n            Robbery\n            section 810 (D.C. Code, sec. 22-2801).\n          \n        \n      \n(2)\nBribery as specified in the Act of February 26, 1936 (D.C. Code, sec. 22-704).\n(3)\nThreats as specified in section 1501 of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (D.C. Code, secs. 22-5106, 22-1810).\n(4)\nOffenses involving the manufacture, distribution, or possession with intent to manufacture or distribute controlled substances as specified in sections 401 through 403 of the District of Columbia Uniform Controlled Substances Act of 1981, effective August 5, 1981 (D.C. Code, secs. 48-904.01 through 48-904.03).\n(5)\n\n        \n          \n            Offense:\n            Specified in -\n          \n          \n            Extortion\n            section 151 [D.C. Code, § 22-3251].\n          \n          \n            Blackmail\n            section 152 [D.C. Code, § 22-3252].\n          \n          \n            Bribery\n            section 302 [D.C. Code, § 22-712].\n          \n          \n            Obstruction of justice\n            section 502 [D.C. Code, § 22-722].\n          \n          \n            Receiving stolen property of value in excess of $1000\n            section 132 [D.C. Code, § 22-3232].\n          \n          \n            Theft of property of value in excess of $1000\n            section 111 [D.C. Code, § 22-3211].\n          \n          \n            Trafficking in stolen property\n            section 131 [D.C. Code, § 22-3231].\n          \n        \n      ","path":["Title 23. Criminal Procedure. [Enacted title]","Chapter 5. Warrants and Arrests.","Subchapter III. Wire Interception and Interception of Oral Communications."],"source_url":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/23-546","current_through":"2026-08-20 (D.C. Law 26-175)","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-29T05:44:07Z","sha256":"1bcfb5799f8cf10512141dcb2c9296b1e00c14737b4260ff17b2f764ed36caa4","source_id":"us-dc","stale":false,"prev":"us-dc/d.c.-code-23-545","next":"us-dc/d.c.-code-23-547"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}