Unlawful use of neck restraints by law enforcement officers and special police officers

  1. Law
  2. District of Columbia Code
  3. Police, Firefighters, Medical Examiner, and Forensic Sciences
  4. Metropolitan Police
  5. Limitation on Chokehold
  6. Unlawful use of neck restraints by law enforcement officers and special police officers

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*NOTE: This section includes amendments by temporary legislation that will expire on April 16, 2022. To view the text of this section after the expiration of all emergency and temporary legislation affecting this section, click this link: Permanent Version.*

(a) It shall be unlawful for:

(1) Any law enforcement officer or special police officer ("officer") to apply a neck restraint; and

(2) Any officer who applies a neck restraint and any officer who is able to observe another officer's application of a neck restraint to fail to:

(A) Immediately render, or cause to be rendered, first aid on the person on whom the neck restraint was applied; or

(B) Immediately request emergency medical services for the person on whom the neck restraint was applied.

(b) Any officer who violates the provisions of subsection (a) of this section shall be fined no more than the amount set forth in § 22-3571.01, or incarcerated for no more than 10 years, or both.

(Jan. 25, 1986, D.C. Law 6-77, § 4, 32 DCR 6497; Sept. 3, 2021, D.C. Law 24-23, § 101(c), 68 DCR 005837.)

Prior Codifications

1981 Ed., § 4-190.

Section References

This section is referenced in § 5-302.

Emergency Legislation

For temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 101(c) of Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Emergency Amendment Act of 2021 (D.C. Act 24-128, July 29, 2021, 68 DCR 007656).

For temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 101(c) of Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Emergency Amendment Act of 2021 (D.C. Act 24-76, May 3, 2021, 68 DCR 004935).

For temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 101(c) of Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2020 (D.C. Act 23-437, Oct. 28, 2020, 67 DCR 12993).

For temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 101(c) of Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Second Emergency Amendment Act of 2020 (D.C. Act 23-336, July 22, 2020, 67 DCR 9148).

Temporary Legislation

For temporary (225 days) amendment of this section, see § 101(c) of Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Temporary Amendment Act of 2021 (D.C. Law 24-23, Sept. 3, 2021, 68 DCR 005837).

For temporary (225 days) amendment of this section, see § 101(c) of Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Second Temporary Amendment Act of 2020 (D.C. Law 23-151, Dec. 3, 2020, 67 DCR 9920).

Editor's Notes

Mayor authorized to issue rules: See Historical and Statutory Notes following § 5-125.01.


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