(a) A law enforcement officer, upon determining that there is probable cause to believe that a valid foreign protection order exists and that the order has been violated, shall enforce the order as if it were the order of a tribunal of the District. Presentation of a protection order that identifies both the protected individual and the respondent and, on its face, is currently in effect constitutes probable cause to believe that a valid foreign protection order exists. For the purposes of this section, the protection order may be inscribed on a tangible medium or may have been stored in an electronic or other medium if it is retrievable in perceivable form. Presentation of a certified copy of a protection order is not required for enforcement.
(b) If a foreign protection order is not presented, a law enforcement officer may consider other information in determining whether there is probable cause to believe that a valid foreign protection order exists.
(c) Registration or filing of an order in the District is not required for the enforcement of a valid foreign protection order pursuant to this subchapter.
CREDIT(S)
(Apr. 11, 2003, D.C. Law 14-296, § 2(c), 50 DCR 320.)
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
Legislative History of Laws
For Law 14-296, see notes following § 16-1041.
Uniform Law
This section is based upon § 4 of the Uniform Interstate Enforcement of Domestic Violence Protection Orders Act. See 9, Pt. 1B, Uniform Laws Annotated, Master Edition, or ULA Database on Westlaw.