Legal Definitions - Travel Act

The Travel Act is a law that was created in 1961 to help federal authorities deal with criminal activities that involve interstate commerce. It prohibits people from promoting, directing, or managing illegal business activities that cross state lines.

For example, if someone from one state travels to another state to set up a drug trafficking operation, they could be prosecuted under the Travel Act. Similarly, if someone uses a phone or the internet to coordinate illegal activities across state lines, they could also be charged under this law.

The Travel Act is important because it allows federal authorities to get involved in cases that might otherwise be handled by state or local lawenforcement. This can be especially helpful when criminal activities involve multiple states or when local authorities don't have the resources to deal with complex criminal organizations.