Document: 397 U.S. 249 90 S.Ct. 1029 25 L.Ed.2d 282 UNITED STATES, Petitioner,v.Gerritt Johannes VAN LEEUWEN. No. 403. Argued Feb. 25, 1970. Decided March 23, Solicitor Gen., Erwin N. Griswold, for petitioner. Craig G. Davis respondent. Mr. Justice DOUGLAS delivered the opinion of Court. 1 Respondent, at about 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, 28, 1968, mailed two 12-pound packages post office in Mt. Vernon, Washington, a town some 60 miles from Canadian border. One package was addressed to box Van Nuys, California, and other Nashville, Tennessee. Respondent declared they contained coins. Each be sent airmail registered each insured $10,000, type mailing that parties agree first class, making them not subject discretionary inspection.1 2 When postal clerk told policeman who happened present he suspicious packages, once noticed return address vacant housing area nearby junior college, license plates respondent's car were British Columbia. The called police, customs Seattle. At 3 o'clock afternoon Nuys learned addressee one under investigation trafficking illegal Due time differential, Seattle unable reach Nashville until following morning, 29, when advised second also being investigated same crime. A official thereupon filed an affidavit search warrant both with United States commissioner, issued 4 p.m., it executed Vernon 6:30 1/2 hours later. Thereupon opened, inspected, resealed promptly their way. Other evidence showed respondent had brought Canada without declaring them. He tried illegally importing gold coins violation 18 U.S.C. § 545 found guilty sentenced fined. On appeal, Court Appeals reversed, holding improperly admitted because timely been obtained. 414 F.2d 758. case is here petition writ certiorari, 396 885, 175, 24 160. We reverse. It has long held first-class mail such as letters sealed letter postage—as distinguished newspapers, magazines, pamphlets, printed matter—is free inspection by authorities, except manner provided Fourth Amendment. As stated Ex parte Jackson, 96 727, 733, L.Ed. 877, decided 1878: 5 'Letters this kind are fully guarded examination inspection, outward form weight, if retained forwarding own domiciles. constitutional guaranty right people secure papers against unreasonable searches seizures extends papers, thus closed wherever may be. Whilst mail, can only opened examined like warrant, upon similar oath or affirmation, particularly describing thing seized, required subjected one's household. No law Congress place hands officials connected service any authority invade secrecy mail; all regulations adopted matter must subordination great principle embodied fourth amendment Constitution.' 6 course events since 1878 underlined relevance importance Post Office our rights. Holmes ex rel. Milwaukee Social Democratic Pub. Co. v. Burleson, 255 407, 437, 41 352, 363, 65 704 (dissenting opinion), said 'the use mails almost much part speech tongues.' have emphasized over again while classify fix charges its carriage, set up regimes censorship it. Hannegan Esquire, Inc., 327 146, 66 456, 586, nor encumber flow setting 'administrative astride inspect it, appraise write await response before dispatching mail' him.2 Lamont Postmaster General, 381 301, 306, 85 1493, 1496, 14 398. Yet even beyond inspection; sole question whether conditions detention satisfied. think been. 7 nature weight fictitious address, Columbia made mailings border certainly justified detention, made. 'protective weapons' suspect which approved Terry Ohio, 392 1, 20—27, 88 1868, 1879 1883, 20 889, probable cause arrest did exist, went further than we need go here. done basis suspicion packages. There point no possible invasion 'to secure' 'persons, houses, effects' protected Amendment 'unreasonable seizures.' Theoretically—and theory his side—detention could become seizure 'papers' 'effects' within meaning Detention hours—from p.m.—for excessive; end existed believing California illicit project. obtained day package; yet mystery remained unsolved federal Tennessee reached differential. next morning probably By p.m.—or 26 after Vernon—a 29 mailing, speedy transmission considering rush-hour congested highway. 8 interest invaded rather deposited. significant privacy disturbed approval magistrate 9 rule decision detained order obtain needed inspection. hold facts case—the mailings, character, fact there going separate destinations, unavoidable delay contacting more distant distance between Seattle—a 29-hour cannot 'unreasonable' limited was, indeed, prudent act letting enter then, initial suspicions confirmed, trying locate en route enlisting help serving warrant. 10 Reversed. 39 CFR 131.2 describes 'first class' 'matter inspection,' follows definition 4251(a). stop deliveries distinct one. See 399, Rowan Dept., 728, 1484, 736.

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