No. of Recommendations: 2
The federal government doesn't have to follow state or local laws in the conduct of its official business. Federal agents are subject to state law when they're not actually performing federal governmental functions (ie. they have to follow traffic laws on the way to work), but state laws cannot limit or impede those folks from actually performing their duties. The Supremacy Clause isn't limited to just statutory conflicts between state and federal law - states can't impede or restrict how federal officials perform their official duties within the states.
Again, I've run into this a bunch of times in my zoning and land use practice dealing with federal buildings. Basically, a federal building can ignore virtually every state and local regulation - they don't have to follow zoning, building codes, fire codes, any of that.
That's interesting. So if earthquake standards are updated requiring pillars in underground parking garages be wrapped in steel to help prevent damage and collapse, the Federal Building doesn't have to comply?
Let's say ICE wants to drive across someone's property to get surprise access for a potential immigrant site and it's chained off. they can break the chain and drive across the lawn in civilian cars with no problem? Are they responsible for damage?
These may be cumbersome so if you want to direct me where to read, I'm happy. :)
