*NOTE: This section includes amendments by temporary legislation that will expire on September 11, 2026. To view the text of this section after the expiration of all emergency and temporary legislation, click this link: Permanent Version.*

1. (a)

   1. (1) Except as provided in subsection (b)(1) and (1A) and (1A) of this section, a violation of § 35-251(b) or § 35-252(a) shall be punishable by a civil fine of not more than $50.

   2. (2)

      1. (A) Violations penalized under this subsection shall be adjudicated by the Office of Administrative Hearings in accordance with subchapter I of Chapter 18 of Title 2.
      2. (B) The Office of Administrative Hearings, pursuant to subchapter I of Chapter 5 of Title 2, may issue rules to implement the provisions of this paragraph.
   3. (3) Individuals authorized to issue notices of infractions for the violations penalized under this subsection include any police officer with authority to make arrests within the District, including members of the Metro Transit Police Department.

2. (b)

   1. (1) A violation of section § 35-251(b)(6), (c) or (d) shall be punishable by a fine of not more than $300, imprisonment of not more than 90 days, not fewer than 30 hours of community service, or a combination of any 2 penalties, except that imprisonment and community service shall not be imposed together.
   2. (1A) A person who refuses to provide his or her name and address, or who knowingly provides an incorrect name or address, to an authorized individual under subsection (a)(3) of this section in violation of § 35-252(b) shall, upon conviction, be fined no more than $100.
   3. (2) The fine set forth in this subsection shall not be limited by Chapter 35B of Title 22.
   4. (3) All prosecutions under this subsection shall be brought by the Attorney General for the District of Columbia.

History

Sept. 23, 1975, D.C. Law 1-18, § 5, formerly § 4, 22 DCR 1995

renumbered, Feb. 22, 1978, D.C. Law 2-40, § 2(b), 24 DCR 3344

June 29, 1984, D.C. Law 5-91, § 3(b), 31 DCR 2539

Oct. 1, 1992, D.C. Law 9-171, § 2(b), 39 DCR 5831

May 3, 2019, D.C. Law 22-310, § 4(c)

Apr. 27, 2021, D.C. Law 23-274, § 1402

June 8, 2024, D.C. Law 25-175, § 35(b)

Oct. 28, 2025, D.C. Law 26-52, § 6

Jan. 29, 2026, D.C. Law 26-81, § 5

Prior Codifications

1973 Ed., § 44-218.

1981 Ed., § 44-226.

2001 Ed., § 35-253.

Section References

This section is referenced in § 35-251.

Emergency Legislation

For temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 5 of Firearms Safety Omnibus Clarification Emergency Amendment Act of 2019 (D.C. Act 23-49, May 16, 2019, 66 DCR 6310).

For temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 6 of Firearms Safety Omnibus Clarification Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2019 (D.C. Act 23-103, July 24, 2019, 66 DCR 9738).

For temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 6 of Firearms Safety Omnibus Clarification Emergency Amendment Act of 2020 (D.C. Act 23-297, May 1, 2020, 67 DCR 5037).

For temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 6 of Firearms Safety Omnibus Clarification Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2020 (D.C. Act 23-342, July 27, 2020, 67 DCR 9368).

For temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 7 of Omnibus Public Safety and Justice Emergency Amendment Act of 2021 (D.C. Act 24-25, Feb. 26, 2021, 68 DCR 002604).

For temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 28(b) of Secure DC Omnibus Emergency Amendment Act of 2024 (D.C. Act 25-410, Mar. 11, 2024, 71 DCR 2693).

For temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 28(b) of Secure DC Omnibus Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2024 (D.C. Act 25-490, June 7, 2024, 71 DCR 7006).

For temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 5 of Peace DC Omnibus Emergency Amendment Act of 2025 (D.C. Act 26-109, July 14, 2025, 72 DCR 8013).

For temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 5 of Peace DC Omnibus Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2025 (D.C. Act 26-169, Oct. 23, 2025, 0 DCR 0).

Temporary Legislation

For temporary (225 days) amendment of this section, see § 6 of Firearms Safety Omnibus Clarification Temporary Amendment Act of 2019 (D.C. Law 23-17, Sept. 11, 2019, 66 DCR 8741).

For temporary (225 days) amendment of this section, see § 6 of Firearms Safety Omnibus Clarification Temporary Amendment Act of 2020 (D.C. Law 23-123, Aug. 6, 2020, 67 DCR 5103).

For temporary (225 days) amendment of this section, see § 5 of Peace DC Omnibus Temporary Amendment Act of 2025 (D.C. Law 26-81, Jan. 29, 2026, 0 DCR 0).