(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.
(Apr. 11, 2003, D.C. Law 14-296, § 2(c), 50 DCR 320.)
Uniform Law: This section is based upon § 4 of the Uniform Interstate Enforcement of Domestic Violence Protection Orders Act.
Structure District of Columbia Code
Title 16 - Particular Actions, Proceedings and Matters. [Enacted title]
Chapter 10 - Proceedings Regarding Intrafamily Offenses
Subchapter IV - Interstate Enforcement of Domestic Violence Protection; Uniform Law
§ 16–1042. Judicial enforcement of order
§ 16–1043. Nonjudicial enforcement of order
§ 16–1044. Registration of order