An Act to regulate and license pawnbrokers in the District of Columbia.
PL 84-982 (H.R.11002), enacted 08/06/1956

1036 
PUBLIC LAW 982-AUG. 6, 1956 
[70 ST A T . 
August 6, 1956 
[H. R. 11002] 
D. C. 
p a w n * 
brokers. 
Public Law 982 
CHAPTER 970 
AN ACT 
To regulate and license pawnbrokers in the District of Columbia. 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, 
DEFINITIONS 
SECTION 1. That, as used in this Act— 
(a) The term "person" means an individual, firm, voluntary asso-
ciation, joint-stock company, incorporated society, or corporation. 
(b) The term "District" means the District of Columoia. 
(c) The term "Commissioners" means the Commissioners of the 
District or the agent or agents designated by them to perform any 
function vested in the Commissioners by this Act: Provided, That for 
the purposes of subsection (e) of section 7 no such agent shall, by way 
of appeal, review his own action, decision, or ruling. 
(d) The term "pawnbroker" means any person who shall in any 
manner lend or advance money or other things for profit on the pledge 
and possession of personal property or other valuable thing, other 
than securities or written or printed evidences of indebtedness or who 
deals in the purchasing of personal property or other valuable thing 
on condition of selling the same back again at a stipulated price, and 
shall include all pawnbrokers referred to in section 4-148, section 
4-149, and section 4-150 of the District of Columbia Code of 1951. 
LICENSES REQUIRED OP PAWNBROKERS 
SEC. 2. (a) No person shall engage in business as a pawnbroker 
except as authorized in this Act and without first obtaining a license 
from the Commissioners as hereinafter provided. 
(b) No person, other than a licensee under this Act, shall display 
any sign or other device in or about any business premises, or in any 
advertising matter, which in any manner resembles the emblem or sign 
commonly used by pawnbrokers nor display any sign which is calcu-
lated to deceive, nor use the word "pawnbroker" in or about any busi-
ness premises or in any advertising matter, nor shall any such person 
hold himself out to the public to be a pawnbroker either by advertising, 
soliciting, signs, or otherwise. 
Application 
license. 
for 
APPOINTMENT OF ATTORNEY AND APPLICATION FOR LICENSES 
SEC. 3. (a) No license shall be issued to any person unless and until 
such person shall, in writing and in the form prescribed by the Com-
missioners, appoint the Commissioners as his true and lawful attorney 
upon whom all judicial and other process or legal notice directed to 
such person may be served. 
A copy of any such process or notice 
so served upon the Commissioners shall be forthwith sent by regis-
tered mail by the plaintiff or his attorney to the defendant at his resi-
dence or his place of business. 
(b) Each application for a license under this Act shall be in writ-
ing, under oath or affirmation, to the Commissioners in such form as 
they may prescribe. 
Such application shall contain (1) in the case 
of an individual, his name and the address of his residence and place 
of business, (2) in the case of a firm or voluntary association, the 
name and address of every member thereof and the address of the 
place where such business is to be conducted, (3) in the case of a joint-
stock company, incorporated society, or corporation, the names and 
addresses of the officers and directors thereof and the address of the 
70 S T A T . ] 
PUBLIC LAW 982-AUG. 6, 1956 
10S7 
place where such business is to be conducted, and (4) such additional 
information as the Commissioners may prescribe. 
(c) Each applicant shall prove to the satisfaction of the Commis-
sioners that he has available, for use in the business of making loans 
authorized by this Act at the location specified in his application, 
cash capital of at least $20,000. 
(d) Upon the filing of any such application the applicant shall 
pay to the Commissioners the sum of $50 as a fee for investigating 
the application, which sum shall be retained by the District whether 
such application is approved or disapproved. 
BOND PROVISIONS 
SEC. 4. (a) Each applicant shall file with his application a bond 
running to the District in the sum of $5,000 with two or more sufficient 
sureties, whose liability as such securities shall not exceed the said 
sum in the aggregate; except that the execution of any such bond by 
a fidelity or surety company authorized by the laws of the United 
States to transact business in the District shall be equivalent to the 
execution thereof by two sureties, but such company, if excepted to, 
shall justify in the manner required by law of fidelity and surety 
companies. 
Such bond shall be approved by the Commissioners and 
conditioned upon the compliance by the applicant with all the pro-
visions of this title and all rules and regulations lawfully made pursu-
ant thereto. Any person injured by the noncompliance with any such 
provision, rule, or regulation by any licensee under this Act may 
maintain a suit in his own name in any court of competent jurisdiction 
and recover on the bond such damages as shall be adjudged by such 
court together with costs of such suit. 
Recovery upon any such bond 
shall not preclude recovery against such licensee for any liability in 
excess of the amount recovered upon the bond, and such recovery 
shall not be held to extinguish any remedy under other law. 
(b) The bond or bonds which the licensee is required to file here-
under shall be renewed and refiled annually at the time of making 
payment of the annual license fee. If the Commissioners shall find 
that any such bond has for any reason become insecure or exhausted, 
an additional bond in the sum of not more than $5,000 shall be filed 
by the licensee within ten days after written demand therefor by the 
Commissioners. 
ISSUANCE o r LICENSE 
S]EJC. 5. (a) If the Commissioners approve the bond filed by the 
applicant and the form of the application, and find after investiga-
tion (1) that the financial responsibility, experience, character, and 
general fitness of such applicant, and of the members thereof if the 
applicant is a firm or voluntary association, and of the officei's and 
directors thereof if the applicant is a joint-stock company, incorpo-
rated society, or corporation are such as to command the confidence 
of the community and to warrant the belief that the business of the 
applicant will be operated honestly, fairly, and efficiently in accord-
ance with the purposes of this Act; (2) that permitting such appli-
cant to engage in such business will promote the convenience and 
advantage of the community; and (3) that the applicant has available 
for use in such business at the location specified in the application cash 
capital of at least $20,000, the Commissioners shall, upon payment by 
the applicant of a license fee of $500, issue to the applicant a license 
to make such loans in accordance with the provisions of this Act 
at the location specified in such application; except that if any such 
license is issued after the thirtieth day of April of any year the fee 
Renewal. 
License fee. 
1038 
PUBLIC LAW 982-AUG. 8, 1956 
[70 ST A T , 
Issuance or re-
fusal of license. 
P o s t i n g of li-
cense. 
for such license shall be $250. If the Commissioners do not so find 
after investigation they shall notify the applicant thereof and return 
the bond filed with the application. Within sixty days from the date 
of filing the application for license, accompanied by the investigation 
fee and bond required by this Act, the Commissioners shall either issue 
or refuse to issue such license, but no applicant shall be denied a license 
until after a due hearing by the Commissioners, at which the applicant 
shall have a reasonable opportunity to be heard and to produce evi-
dence in support of his application. If the application be denied the 
Commissioners shall within twenty days thereafter prepare a written 
decision and findings with respect thereto containing a summary of the 
evidence and the reasons supporting the denial and forthwith serve 
upon the applicant a copy thereof. 
(b) Each license issued under this Act shall state fully the name of 
the licensee and the place at which the business is to be conducted under 
such license. 
Such license shall be kept conspicuously posted in such 
place of business. No such license shall be transferable or assignable. 
Not more than one place of business shall be maintained under the same 
license, but the Commissioners may issue more than one license to the 
same licensee upon compliance for each such license with all the pro-
visions of this title applicable to the original issuance of licenses. 
Whenever a licensee shall desire to change his place of business to 
another location within the District he shall immediately give written 
notice thereof to the Commissioners. 
Upon receipt of such notice the 
Commissioners shall attach to the license a statement of the change of 
location and the date thereof, which shall be authority for the opera-
tion of such business under such license at the new location. 
(c) No licensee shall transact such business or make any loan pro-
vided for by this Act under any other name or at any other place of 
business than that named in the license. 
Revocation of li-
REVOCATION, SUSPENSION, AND RENEWAL OF LICENSES 
SEC. 6. (a) Each license shall remain in full force and effect until 
the first day of November following the date of issuance unless sooner 
Burrendered by the licensee or suspended or revoked as hereinafter 
provided. 
Application for license for the following year may be made 
by any licensee within twenty days prior to the first day of November. 
If the Commissioners are satisfied that no fact or condition then exists 
which clearly would warrant the Commissioners in refusing to issue 
a license on an original application the Commissioners are authorized 
to issue license for the year commencing on the first day of November 
following the date of such application, upon payment of license fee 
of $250. 
(b) The Commissioners shall, upon ten days' notice to the licensee 
stating that they contemplate the revocation or suspension of his 
license, and, in general, the grounds therefor, revoke or suspend such 
license, after reasonable opportunity has been afforded to the licensee 
to be heard, if the Commissioners find (1) that the licensee has failed 
to maintain in effect the bond or bonds required under this Act or (2) 
that the licensee has either knowingly or without the exercise of due 
care to prevent the same, violated any provision of this Act or has 
failed to comply with any rule or regulation lawfully made pursuant 
thereto, or (3) that any fact or condition then exists which clearly 
would warrant the Commissioners in refusing to issue a license on an 
original application. 
If the license be revoked or suspended the Com-
missioners shall, within twenty days thereafter, prepare a written de-
cision and findings with respect thereto containing a summarjr of the 
evidence and the reasons supporting the revocation or suspension and 
forthwith serve upon the licensee a copy thereof. 
70 S T A T . ] 
PUBLIC LAW 982-AUG. 6, 1956 
1039 
(c) The Commissioners may revoke or suspend only the particular 
license with respect to which there are grounds for revocation or sus-
pension ; but if the Commissioners find that such grounds for revoca-
tion or suspension apply or extend to more than one license issued to 
any person under this Act, they shall revoke or suspend all the licenses 
affected thereby. 
(d) The licensee may at any time surrender any license issued to cen'^.*"'**' of ii-
him under this Act upon filing written notice to that effect with the 
Commissioners. 
(e) No revocation, suspension, or surrender of any such license 
shall impair or affect the obligation of any preexisting lawful contract 
between the licensee and any borrower, or any bond given by such 
licensee. 
ENFORCEMENT 
SEC. 7. (a) The provisions of this Act shall be enforced by the 
Commissioners, who are authorized to make such rules and regula-
tions in addition hereto and not inconsistent herewith, as may be neces-
sary for the enforcement of this Act. The Commissioners shall make 
such examination and investigations of the affairs, business, office, and 
records of every licensee, and such further examinations or investiga-
tions as they shall deem necessary for the purpose of discovering 
violations of this Act or of securing information necessary for its 
proper enforcement. 
For the purpose of making such examinations 
or investigations the Commissioners and their duly designated repre-
sentatives shall have authority to require by subpena the production 
of books, papers, and records and the attendance, and examination 
under oath, of all persons whomsoever whose testimony they may 
require relative to the loans or business of any such licensee, and shall 
have free access to the accounts, papers, records, files, safes, vaults, 
offices, and places of business used in connection with any business 
conducted under any license issued in accordance with this Act. 
In 
the event of contumacy or refusal to obey any such subpena or require-
ment under this section, the Commissioners may make application to 
the Municipal Court for the District of Columbia for an order requir-
ing obedience thereto. 
Thereupon the court, with or without notice 
and hearing, as it in its discretion may decide, shall make such order 
as is proper and may punish as a contempt any failure to comply 
with such order in accordance with the provisions of subsection (c), 
section 5, of the Act of April 1,1942 (56 Stat. 193, ch. 207; sec. 11-756 
(c), D. C. Code, 1951 edition). 
(ID) Each licensee shall annually on or before the fifteenth day of 
Report to com-
March file with the Commissioners a report giving such information "^'•^''"•'•* 
as the Commissioners maj require, relevant to the business and' oper-
ations during the preceding calendar year, of each licensed place of 
business conducted by such licensee in the District. 
Such report shall 
be made under oath and in the form prescribed by the Commissioners. 
The Commissioners shall make and publish annually an analysis and 
recapitulation of such reports. 
(c) Each licensee shall keep and use in his business and shall pre- 
Recordm. 
serve for at least three years after making the final entry on any foan 
recorded therein, such books, accounts, records, or card systems as will 
enable the Commissioners to determine whether such licensee is com-
plying with the provisions of this Act and with the rules and regula-
tions made pursuant thereto. 
(d) The Commissioners are authorized to appoint such assistants, 
clerks, or other employees as may be required for the purpose of car-
rying out the provisions of this Act. 
employetts. 
104D 
PUBLIC LAW 982-AUG. «, 1956 
[70 ST A T . 
Appeals. 
Ordar to daalst. 
S t a t e m e n t 
of 
rates of charge. 
Investigations. 
Interest rates. 
(e) Any person aggrieved by any action, decision, or ruling of the 
Commissioners under this Act may, within twenty days thereafter, or 
within twenty days after the service upon such person of any written 
decision and findings required by this Act, appeal to the Commission-
ers for a review thereof. Upon any such review, the Commissioners 
may affirm, set aside, or modify such action, decision, or ruling. 
In 
any such case the Commissioners shall, within ten days thereafter, pre-
pare a written decision and findings with respect thereto, containing 
a summary of the evidence and the reasons supporting the affirmance, 
setting aside, or modification, and forthwith serve upon the aggrieved 
person a copy thereof. 
ADVERTISING 
SEC. 8. (a) No licensee or other person, firm, voluntary association, 
joint stock company, incorporated society, or corporation shall adver-
tise, print, display, publish, distribute, or broadcast, or cause or per-
mit to be advertised, printed, displayed, published, distributed, or 
broadcast, in any manner whatsoever, any statement or representa-
tion with regard to the rates, terms, or conditions for the lending of 
money, credit, goods, or things in action in the amount or of the value 
of $1,000 or less, which is false, misleading, or deceptive, or, in the 
case of a licensee, which refers to the supervision of such business by 
the District of Columbia, or any department or official thereof. The 
Commissioners may order any licensee to desist from any conduct 
which they shall find to be a violation of the foregoing provisions. 
(b) The Commissioners may require that rates of charge, if stated 
by a licensee, be stated fully and clearly in such manner as they may 
deem necessary to prevent misunderstanding thereof by prospective 
borrowers. 
SEC. 9. (a) The Commissioners shall investigate from time to time 
the economic conditions and other factors relating to and affecting 
the business of making pawnbroker loans under this Act, and shall 
ascertain all pertinent facts necessary to determine what maximum 
rate of interest should be permitted. Upon the basis of such ascer-
tained facts, the Commissioners shall determine and fix by regu-
lation or order a maximum rate of interest in connection with such 
loans which will induce efficiently managed commercial capital to 
be invested in such business in sufficient amounts to make available 
adequate credit facilities to individuals seeking such loans at reason-
able rates of interest, and which will afford those engaged in such 
business a fair and reasonable return upon the assets. 
The Com-
missioners may from time to time, upon the basis of changed condi-
tions or facts, redetermine and refix any such maximum rate of inter-
est, but, before determining or redetermining any such maximum rate, 
the Commissioners shall give reasonable notice of their intention to 
consider doing so to all licensees and a reasonable opportunity to be 
heard and introduce evidence with respect thereto and such notice 
shall also be published once each week for two consecutive weeks in one 
or more of the daily newspapers published in the District. Any such 
changed maximum rate of interest shall not affect preexisting loan 
contracts lawfully entered into between any licensee and any borrower. 
Until such time as a different rate is fixed by the Commissioners in 
accordance with the authorization contained in this section, every 
licensed pawnbroker may contract for and receive on any loan of 
money, not exceeding 2 per centum per month, or fraction thereof, 
upon any loan not exceeding the sum of $200, or more than 1 per 
centum per month or fraction thereof, upon any loan exceeding $200 
and not exceeding $1,000, and 8 per centum per annum on any loan 
70 S T A T . ] 
PUBLIC LjAW 982-AUG. 6, 1956 
11341 
in excess of $1,000, under a penalty of $100 for each such offense: 
Provided^ That pawnbrokers may ask, demand, and receive a mini-
mum charge in lieu of interest of 50 cents. 
(b) The borrower may pay all or any part of any loan made pur- 
Payment of loan, 
suant to this Act at any time before the date of maturity thereof, but 
any such payment may first be applied by the licensee to all interest 
unpaid up to the date of such payment. 
SEC. 10. (a) No person, except as authorized by this Act, shall 
directly or indirectly, by any device, subterfuge, or pretense whatso-
ever, ask, demand, charge, contract for, or receive, or participate, as 
agent, broker, procurer, intermediary, or volunteer, or in any other 
capacity, in asking, demanding, charging, contracting for, or receiv-
ing any interest, discount, fee, charge, or other consideration which 
in the aggregate is greater than the interest which is permitted by 
section 1178, 1179, or 1180 of such Act approved March 3, 1901, as 
Ji |t«t-^J^377„^g_ 
amended, upon any loan or application for loan in the amount or of 2
7
0
*
1 to* 28-2703. 
the value of $1,000, or less, whether or not such loan is made. 
(b) No person engaged in the business regulated by this Act shall 
pay, directly or indirectly, to any person, any money, service, or thing 
of value for the doing of any of the acts prohibited in the subsection 
(a) of this section: Provided^ That this subsection shall apply only 
to acts done or performed with reference to loan transactions or appli-
cations for loans in sums of $1,000 or less, or in inducing or seeking to 
induce any person to borrow in sums of $1,000 or less. 
(c) No instrument evidencing a loan made within the District in initnSvent/etcT °' 
violation of the provisions of this Act shall be valid or enforceable 
in the District by the lender or by any other holder thereof who ac-
quired the same with actual knowledge that said loan was made in 
violation of the provisions of this Act or with knowledge of such 
facts that his action in taking such instrument amounted to bad faith. 
(d) Any loan made by any person not licensed under this Act for 
which there has been charged, contracted for, or received a greater 
rate of interest, discount, or consideration than the interest which is 
permitted by sections 1178, 1179, or 1180 of the Act approved March 
3, 1901, as amended, and any loan made by a licensee under this Act ^^^^ c. jlfj^yoa^*" 
for which there has been charged, contracted for, or received a greater 
rate of interest, discount, or consideration than licensees are permitted 
to charge, contract for, or receive under this Act is hereby declared to 
be against the public policy of the District. 
No such loan made out-
side the District shall be enforced in the District and every person 
in anywise participating therein in the District shall be subj set to 
the provisions of this Act, except that the provisions of this subsection 
shall not apply to a loan legally made in any State under and in 
accordance with the provisions of a duly enacted pawnbroker law. 
SEC. 11. (a) Every pawnbroker shall keep a book in which shall be 
Description of 
fairly written, at the time of each loan, an accurate account and de- etc.** " ^•'^ * ' 
scription of the goods, article, or thing pawned or pledged, the amount 
of money loaned thereon, the time of pledging the same, the rate of 
interest to be paid on such loan, and the name and residence of the 
person pawning or pledging the said goods, article, or thing, together 
with a particular description of such person, including complexion, 
color of eyes and hair, and his or her height and general appearances. 
(b) The said book shall at all reasonable times be open to the in- 
inspection of 
spection of the Commissioners. 
It shall be the dutj of every pawn- ''•*'°''**** 
broker, and of every person in his employ, to admit to his premises 
during business hours any member of the Metropolitan Police Force 
of the District of Columbia as aforesaid to examine any pledge or 
pawn book or other record on the premises, as well as the articles 
69Z25 O - 57 - 70 (Vol. 70) 
1D42 
PUBLIC LAW 982- AUG. 6, 1956 
[70 S T A T . 
D a i l y 
delivery 
of transcripts. 
Dalivery of mem-
orandum to person 
pawning goods. 
SJEtle of pledge. 
46 Stat. 1035. 
Surplus money. 
pledged, purchased, or received, and to search for and take possession 
of any article known by him to be missing or known or believed by 
him to have been stolen, without the formality of the writ of search 
warrant or any other process, which search or seizure is hereby au-
thorized. 
(c) Except as to any judicial or other official of the District, having 
a right thereto in his official capacity, it shall be unlawful for any 
officer or employee of the District to divulge or make known in any 
manner the contents of such book. 
(d) Every pawnbroker shall, every day, except Sunday, before 
the hour of eleven o'clock in the forenoon, deliver to the Chief of 
Police, or his representative, on forms to be prescribed by the Com-
missioners of the District of Columbia, a legible and correct trans-
cript from the book or books provided for in section 11 (a), showing 
an accurate and complete description of every article or thing received 
by him, in pawn or pledge, and giving all numbers, marks, monograms, 
trademarks, manufacturers' names and other marks of identifacation 
appearing on the same, on the business day next preceding, together 
with the numbers of the pawn ticket issued therefor, the amount of 
the loan thereon, and the name, residence, and physical description of 
the person pawning or pledging the said goods, article or thing. 
SEC. 12. Every pawnbroker shall, at the time of each loan, deliver 
to the person pawning or pledging any goods, article, or thing a mem-
orandum or note, signed by him, containing the substance of the entry 
required to be made in his or her book by the last preceding section, 
excepting as to the description of the person and no charge shall be 
made or received by any pawnbroker for any such entry, memorandum, 
or note. 
SEC. 13. No pawnbroker shall sell any pawn or pledge until the 
same shall have remained one year in his possession, unless by consent 
in writing by the pawner; and all such sales shall be made at public 
auction and not otherwise, and shall be made or conducted only by 
an auctioneer licensed by the District of Columbia. 
SEC. 14. Notice of every such sale shall be published for at least 
six days previous thereto, in one or more of the daily newspapers of 
general circulation printed in the District of Columbia, and such 
notice shall specify the time and place at which such sale is to take 
place, the name of the auctioneer by whom the same is to be conducted, 
and a description of the article to be sold, and in addition thereto the 
pawnbroker shall mail to the pawner a copy of such notice and shall 
obtain from the postmaster or his authorized agent a certificate show-
ing such mailing, issued pursuant to the Act approved January 13, 
1931 (U. S. C, title 39, sec. 2G0a), and regulations made thereunder. 
Such certificates shall be deemed to be part of the records of the busi-
ness of the pawnbroker required by this title to be kept. 
SEC. 15. The surplus money, if any, arising from any such sale, after 
deducting the amount of the loan, the interest then due on the same, 
and the expenses of the advertisement and sale, shall be paid over by 
the pawnbroker to the person who would be entitled to redeem the 
pledge in case no such sale had taken place. 
PENALTIES 
SEC. 16. (a) Any individual or any member, officer, director, agent, 
or employee of any firm, voluntary association, joint-stock company, 
incorporated society, or corporation who shall violate or participate 
in the violation of any of the provisions of this Act shall be punished 
by a fine of not more than $300 or by imprisonment for not more than 
ninety days. 
70 
S T A T . ] 
PUBLIC L
<
A
W 983-AUG. 6, 1956 
1()43 
(b) Any contract of loan in the making or collection of which any 
act shall have been done which constitutes a violation of any of the 
provisions of this title shall be void and the lender shall have no right 
to collect or receive any principal, interest, or charges whatsoever on 
account thereof. 
Any person pledging any goods, article, or other 
thing as security for a loan which is void shall be entitled to the return 
of such goods, article, or thing without being required to pay any 
principal, interest, or other charge on account of such void loan. 
SEC. IT. The Commissioners are authorized to make and enforce 
such rules and regulations as they deem necessary to carry out the 
purposes of this Act. 
SEC. 18. Nothing in this Act shall apply to any person, firm, joint-
stock company, incorporated society, credit union, or corj)oration 
doing business in the District of Columbia under the supervision of 
the Federal Reserve System, or the Comptroller of the Currency, or 
the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, or the Home Loan Bank 
Board, or the Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation, or 
the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare or to loans made 
by them. 
BEFEAL. 
SEC. 19. The Act entitled "An Act to regulate the business of loan-
ing money on security of any kind by persons, firms, and corporations 
other than national banks, licensed bankers, trust companies, savings 
banks, building and loan asssociations, and real-estate brokers, in the 
District of Columbia", approved February 4,1913, as amended, inso-
far as the same applies to the business of lending money on the 
security of the pledge and possession of tangible personal property, 
is hereby repealed. 
SEPARABILITY OF PROVISIONS 
SEC. 20. If any provision of this Act or the application thereof to 
any person or circumstances, is held invalid, the remainder of the Act, 
and the application of such provision to other persons or circum-
stances shall not be affected thereby. 
EFFECTIVE DATE OF ACT 
SEC. 21. This Act shall take effect at the expiration of sixty days 
after the date of its approval. 
Approved August 6, 1956. 
Nonapplicabllity 
of Act. 
37 Stat. 657. 
D. C. Code 26> 
601 to 26-611. 
Public Law 983 
CHAPTER 971 
AN ACT 
To amend section 1201 of title 18 of the United States Code to authorize the 
Federal Bureau of Investigation to initiate investigation of any kidnaping in 
which the victim has not been released within twenty-four hours after his 
seizure. 
August 6, 1956 
IH. R. 800] 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of America in Congress assemoled^ That subsection (b) 
of section 1201 of title 18 of the United States Code is amended to 
read as follows: 
"(b) The failure to release the victim within twenty-four hours after 
he shall have been unlawfully seized, confined, inveigled, decoyed, kid-
naped, abducted, or carried away shall create a rebuttable presumption 
that such person has been transported in interstate or foreign com-
merce." 
Approved August 6, 1956. 
Kidnaping. 
62 Stat. 760.