A law enforcement agency is responsible for upholding the rules and laws of the United States. They cover everything from major felonies down to minor driving offenses, which could show up on your driving record. The severity of the crime will determine under which jurisdiction you fall.
Federal Law Enforcement Agencies
Some offenses, usually the more heinous, are considered to be federal crimes. This means your case will go beyond the local and state and right up to the United States jurisdiction. Some of these crimes include:
- Mail Fraud – This means you use the mail to either scam people or businesses. It reaches the federal level of crime if the mail crosses state lines.
- Tax Evasion – If you try to avoid paying your taxes, or try to defraud the government in some other way, it could come back as a federal crime
- Counterfeiting – This includes making phony checks, trying to pass off fake dollar bills as real, and forging signatures on checks that weren’t made out to you.
The agencies that fall under the federal status include the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Homeland Security, Immigration, Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and the United States Secret Service, just to name a few.
State Law Enforcement Agencies
Every state within the United States is responsible for making up their own laws and agencies to help police themselves. If there is something a particular state has a need for, and it is not covered under federal law, the have the right to make that happen. Most of the state agencies take care of traffic and driving laws, state taxes, human services, child protective services, and more.
The states also have the ability to decide what sorts of punishments they will deal out for the various crimes. Which is why you’ll see some states deal out harsher penalties and fines than others. If you do commit a crime, you are subject to that state’s laws and regulations, even if you are from another state.
Local Law Enforcement Agencies
The local law enforcement agencies are responsible for their particular city’s safety and well-being. They deal with issuing traffic tickets and fines, and other minor crimes in their particular area. They hire police officers and other local government officials, and they are the front line when something happens in their jurisdiction, no matter what type of crime it is. For example, if you are caught committing a federal or state crime, you’ll probably still deal with the local law agency first.
This is only a small part of what types of agencies and crimes are out there. For a complete list of law enforcement agencies or federal, state, and local crimes, visit www.4safedrivers.com. They can help direct you toward any government rule or law, especially as it pertains to the road. You can also order your complete driving history quickly and for an affordable rate.
