dreamproit/uscode huggingface dataset:
18 U.S.C. § 1693 (CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE)
§ 1693. Carriage of mail generally
Whoever, being concerned in carrying the mail, collects, receives, or carries any letter or packet, contrary to law, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than thirty days, or both.
(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 776; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(A), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2146.)
heading: Historical and Revision Notes
text: Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 303 (Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 321, § 180, 35 Stat. 1123).
Reference to persons causing or procuring was omitted as unnecessary in view of definition of “principal” in section 2 of this title.
Minor verbal changes were made.
heading: Amendments
text: 1994—Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $50”.
18 U.S.C. § 1694 (CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE)
§ 1694. Carriage of matter out of mail over post routes
Whoever, having charge or control of any conveyance operating by land, air, or water, which regularly performs trips at stated periods on any post route, or from one place to another between which the mail is regularly carried, carries, otherwise than in the mail, any letters or packets, except such as relate to some part of the cargo of such conveyance, or to the current business of the carrier, or to some article carried at the same time by the same conveyance, shall, except as otherwise provided by law, be fined under this title.
(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 776; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(A), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2146.)
heading: Historical and Revision Notes
text: Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 307 (Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 321, § 184, 35 Stat. 1124).
Words “by land, air, or water” were substituted for “stagecoach, railway car, steamboat” with necessary minor changes in phraseology.
Enumeration of persons having charge was omitted as unnecessary.
heading: Amendments
text: 1994—Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $50”.
heading: Study of Private Carriage of Mail; Reports to President and Congress
text: Congressional findings of need for study and reevaluation of restrictions on private carriage of letters and packets contained in this section and submission by United States Postal Service of reports to President and Congress for modernization of law, regulations, and administrative practices, see section 7 of Pub. L. 91–375, set out as a note under section 601 of Title 39, Postal Service.
18 U.S.C. § 1695 (CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE)
§ 1695. Carriage of matter out of mail on vessels
Whoever carries any letter or packet on board any vessel which carries the mail, otherwise than in such mail, shall, except as otherwise provided by law, be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than thirty days, or both.
(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 777; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(A), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2146.)
heading: Historical and Revision Notes
text: Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 308 (Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 321, § 185, 35 Stat. 1124).
The words “thirty days” were substituted for “one month,” to make the term of imprisonment more definite and to conform to other comparable sections. (See section 1693 of this title.)
Minor changes were made in phraseology.
heading: Amendments
text: 1994—Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $50”.
heading: Study of Private Carriage of Mail; Reports to President and Congress
text: Congressional findings of need for study and reevaluation of restrictions on private carriage of letters and packets contained in this section and submission by United States Postal Service of reports to President and Congress for modernization of law, regulations, and administrative practices, see section 7 of Pub. L. 91–375, set out as a note under section 601 of Title 39, Postal Service.
18 U.S.C. § 1696 (CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE)
§ 1696. Private express for letters and packets
(a) Whoever establishes any private express for the conveyance of letters or packets, or in any manner causes or provides for the conveyance of the same by regular trips or at stated periods over any post route which is or may be established by law, or from any city, town, or place to any other city, town, or place, between which the mail is regularly carried, shall be fined not more than $500 or imprisoned not more than six months, or both.
This section shall not prohibit any person from receiving and delivering to the nearest post office, postal car, or other authorized depository for mail matter any mail matter properly stamped.
(b) Whoever transmits by private express or other unlawful means, or delivers to any agent thereof, or deposits at any appointed place, for the purpose of being so transmitted any letter or packet, shall be fined under this title.
(c) This chapter shall not prohibit the conveyance or transmission of letters or packets by private hands without compensation, or by special messenger employed for the particular occasion only. Whenever more than twenty-five such letters or packets are conveyed or transmitted by such special messenger, the requirements of section 601 of title 39, shall be observed as to each piece.
(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 777; Pub. L. 91–375, § 6(j)(14), Aug. 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 778; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(A), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2146.)
heading: Historical and Revision Notes
text: Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., §§ 304, 306, 309 (Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 321, §§ 181, 183, 186, 35 Stat. 1123, 1124; June 22, 1934, ch. 716, 48 Stat. 1207).
Section consolidates sections 304, 306, and 309 of title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed. Reference to persons causing, procuring, aiding or assisting was omitted as such persons are principals under section 2 of this title.
Minor changes were made in phraseology.
heading: Amendments
text: 1994—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $50”.
1970—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 91–375 substituted “section 601 of title 39” for “section 500 of title 39”.
heading: Effective Date of 1970 Amendment
text: Amendment by Pub. L. 91–375 effective within 1 year after Aug. 12, 1970, on date established therefor by Board of Governors of United States Postal Service and published by it in Federal Register, see section 15(a) of Pub. L. 91–375, set out as an Effective Date note preceding section 101 of Title 39, Postal Service.
heading: Study of Private Carriage of Mail; Reports to President and Congress
text: Congressional findings of need for study and reevaluation of restrictions on private carriage of letters and packets contained in this section and submission by United States Postal Service of reports to President and Congress for modernization of law, regulations, and administrative practices, see section 7 of Pub. L. 91–375, set out as a note under section 601 of Title 39, Postal Service.
18 U.S.C. § 1697 (CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE)
§ 1697. Transportation of persons acting as private express
Whoever, having charge or control of any conveyance operating by land, air, or water, knowingly conveys or knowingly permits the conveyance of any person acting or employed as a private express for the conveyance of letters or packets, and actually in possession of the same for the purpose of conveying them contrary to law, shall be fined under this title.
(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 777; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(C), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2146.)
heading: Historical and Revision Notes
text: Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 305 (Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 321, § 182, 35 Stat. 1124).
Same changes were made as in section 1694 of this title.
heading: Amendments
text: 1994—Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $150”.
18 U.S.C. § 1698 (CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE)
§ 1698. Prompt delivery of mail from vessel
Whoever, having charge or control of any vessel passing between ports or places in the United States, and arriving at any such port or place where there is a post office, fails to deliver to the postmaster or at the post office, within three hours after his arrival, if in the daytime, and if at night, within two hours after the next sunrise, all letters and packages brought by him or within his power or control and not relating to the cargo, addressed to or destined for such port or place, shall be fined under this title.
(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 777; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, §§ 330004(10), 330016(1)(C), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2141, 2146.)
heading: Historical and Revision Notes
text: Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed. § 323 (Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 321, § 200, 35 Stat. 1126).
Changes were made in phraseology.
heading: Amendments
text: 1994—Pub. L. 103–322, § 330016(1)(C), substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $150”.
Pub. L. 103–322, § 330004(10), struck out second par. which read as follows: “For each letter or package so delivered he shall receive two cents unless the same is carried under contract.”
18 U.S.C. § 1700 (CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE)
§ 1700. Desertion of mails
Whoever, having taken charge of any mail, voluntarily quits or deserts the same before he has delivered it into the post office at the termination of the route, or to some known mail carrier, messenger, agent, or other employee in the Postal Service authorized to receive the same, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.
(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 778; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(G), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147.)
heading: Historical and Revision Notes
text: Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 322 (Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 321, § 199, 35 Stat. 1126).
Minor changes were made in phraseology.
heading: Amendments
text: 1994—Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $500”.
18 U.S.C. § 1701 (CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE)
§ 1701. Obstruction of mails generally
Whoever knowingly and willfully obstructs or retards the passage of the mail, or any carrier or conveyance carrying the mail, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than six months, or both.
(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 778; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(B), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2146.)
heading: Historical and Revision Notes
text: Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., §§ 324, 325 (Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 321, §§ 201, 202, 35 Stat. 1127).
Sections 324 and 325 of title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., were consolidated with changes of phraseology necessary to effect consolidation.
Words “carriage, horse, driver or”, “car, steamboat”, and “or vessel” were omitted as covered by “any carrier or conveyance”.
The punishment provision is derived from said section 324 rather than from section 325 which provided only a fine of not more than $100 and related only to ferrymen.
heading: Amendments
text: 1994—Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $100”.
18 U.S.C. § 1702 (CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE)
§ 1702. Obstruction of correspondence
Whoever takes any letter, postal card, or package out of any post office or any authorized depository for mail matter, or from any letter or mail carrier, or which has been in any post office or authorized depository, or in the custody of any letter or mail carrier, before it has been delivered to the person to whom it was directed, with design to obstruct the correspondence, or to pry into the business or secrets of another, or opens, secretes, embezzles, or destroys the same, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.
(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 778; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(I), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147.)
heading: Historical and Revision Notes
text: Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 317 (Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 321, § 194, 35 Stat. 1125; Feb. 25, 1925, ch. 318, 43 Stat. 977; Aug. 26, 1935, ch. 693, 49 Stat. 867; Aug. 7, 1939, ch. 557, 53 Stat. 1256).
Section 317 of said title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., was incorporated in this and section 1708 of this title.
Minor changes were made in phraseology.
heading: Amendments
text: 1994—Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $2,000”.
18 U.S.C. § 1704 (CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE)
§ 1704. Keys or locks stolen or reproduced
Whoever steals, purloins, embezzles, or obtains by false pretense any key suited to any lock adopted by the Post Office Department or the Postal Service and in use on any of the mails or bags thereof, or any key to any lock box, lock drawer, or other authorized receptacle for the deposit or delivery of mail matter; or
Whoever knowingly and unlawfully makes, forges, or counterfeits any such key, or possesses any such mail lock or key with the intent unlawfully or improperly to use, sell, or otherwise dispose of the same, or to cause the same to be unlawfully or improperly used, sold, or otherwise disposed of; or
Whoever, being engaged as a contractor or otherwise in the manufacture of any such mail lock or key, delivers any finished or unfinished lock or the interior part thereof, or key, used or designed for use by the department, to any person not duly authorized under the hand of the Postmaster General and the seal of the Post Office Department or the Postal Service, to receive the same, unless the person receiving it is the contractor for furnishing the same or engaged in the manufacture thereof in the manner authorized by the contract, or the agent of such manufacturer—
Shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both.
(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 778; Pub. L. 91–375, § 6(j)(17), Aug. 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 778; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(G), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147.)
heading: Historical and Revision Notes
text: Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 314 (Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 321, § 191, 35 Stat. 1125).
Reference to persons aiding, causing or assisting was omitted. Such persons are principals under section 2 of this title.
Mandatory punishment provision was rephrased in the alternative.
Minor changes were made in phraseology.
heading: Amendments
text: 1994—Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $500” in last par.
1970—Pub. L. 91–375 inserted “or the Postal Service” after “Post Office Department” in first and third pars.
heading: Effective Date of 1970 Amendment
text: Amendment by Pub. L. 91–375 effective within 1 year after Aug. 12, 1970, on date established therefor by Board of Governors of United States Postal Service and published by it in Federal Register, see section 15(a) of Pub. L. 91–375, set out as an Effective Date note preceding section 101 of Title 39, Postal Service.
18 U.S.C. § 1705 (CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE)
§ 1705. Destruction of letter boxes or mail
Whoever willfully or maliciously injures, tears down or destroys any letter box or other receptacle intended or used for the receipt or delivery of mail on any mail route, or breaks open the same or willfully or maliciously injures, defaces or destroys any mail deposited therein, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than three years, or both.
(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 779; May 24, 1949, ch. 139, § 38, 63 Stat. 95; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(H), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147; Pub. L. 107–273, div. B, title III, § 3002(a)(2), Nov. 2, 2002, 116 Stat. 1805.)
heading: Historical and Revision Notes
heading: 1948 Act
text: Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 321 (Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 321, § 198, 35 Stat. 1126; May 18, 1916, ch. 126, § 10, 39 Stat. 162; July 28, 1916, ch. 261, § 1, 39 Stat. 418; May 7, 1934, ch. 220, § 1, 48 Stat. 667).
Words “or shall willfully take or steal such mail from or out of such letter box or other receptacle” were omitted as covered by section 1702 of this title. Prosecutions for theft of mail matter are invariably made under that section whereas this section is used as basis for prosecutions for malicious mischief to mail boxes or receptacles. By Postal Regulations (1928), section 700, paragraph 2, an ordinary letter box is within this section and also section 1702 of this title. Huebner v. United States (C.C.A. 1928, 28 F. 2d 929).
Reference to persons assisting or aiding was omitted. Such persons are principals under definitive section 2 of this title.
Minor changes were made in phraseology.
heading: 1949 Act
text: As amended by this section [section 38] of the bill, section 1705 of title 18, U.S.C., is brought more closely into conformity with the original statute from which it was derived by eliminating an inadvertent reference to a “conveyance” which was not in the original statute. (See S. Rept. No. 133, 81st Cong.)
heading: Amendments
text: 2002—Pub. L. 107–273 inserted “, or both” after “years”.
1994—Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $1,000”.
1949—Act May 24, 1949, struck out reference to a “conveyance” which was not in original statute.
18 U.S.C. § 1706 (CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE)
§ 1706. Injury to mail bags
Whoever tears, cuts, or otherwise injures any mail bag, pouch, or other thing used or designed for use in the conveyance of the mail, or draws or breaks any staple or loosens any part of any lock, chain, or strap attached thereto, with intent to rob or steal any such mail, or to render the same insecure, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than three years, or both.
(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 779; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(H), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147.)
heading: Historical and Revision Notes
text: Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 312 (Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 321, § 189, 35 Stat. 1124).
A fine of “$1,000” was substituted for “$500” thus increasing the maximum to correspond with other comparable sections. (See section 1705 of this title.)
Minor verbal changes were made.
heading: Amendments
text: 1994—Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $1,000”.
18 U.S.C. § 1707 (CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE)
§ 1707. Theft of property used by Postal Service
Whoever steals, purloins, or embezzles any property used by the Postal Service, or appropriates any such property to his own or any other than its proper use, or conveys away any such property to the hindrance or detriment of the public service, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than three years, or both; but if the value of such property does not exceed $1,000, he shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.
(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 779; Pub. L. 91–375, § 6(j)(18), Aug. 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 778; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(G), (H), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147; Pub. L. 104–294, title VI, § 606(a), Oct. 11, 1996, 110 Stat. 3511.)
heading: Historical and Revision Notes
text: Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 313 (Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 321, § 190, 35 Stat. 1124).
The phrase “used by” was substituted for “in use by or belonging to” in order to limit the application of the section to property used by the Post Office Department. Theft of public property belonging to governmental departments is covered by section 641 of this title.
A fine of “$1,000” was substituted for “$200,” thus increasing the maximum to conform with other comparable sections. (See section 1705 of this title.)
The smaller penalty for an offense involving property valued at $100 or less was added. (See reviser’s notes under sections 641 and 645 of this title.)
Minor changes in phraseology were made.
heading: Amendments
text: 1996—Pub. L. 104–294 substituted “$1,000” for “$100”.
1994—Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $1,000” after “service, shall be” and for “fined not more than $500” after “he shall be”.
1970—Pub. L. 91–375 substituted “Postal Service” for “Post Office Department”.
heading: Effective Date of 1970 Amendment
text: Amendment by Pub. L. 91–375 effective within 1 year after Aug. 12, 1970, on date established therefor by Board of Governors of United States Postal Service and published by it in Federal Register, see section 15(a) of Pub. L. 91–375, set out as an Effective Date note preceding section 101 of Title 39, Postal Service.
18 U.S.C. § 1709 (CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE)
§ 1709. Theft of mail matter by officer or employee
Whoever, being a Postal Service officer or employee, embezzles any letter, postal card, package, bag, or mail, or any article or thing contained therein entrusted to him or which comes into his possession intended to be conveyed by mail, or carried or delivered by any carrier, messenger, agent, or other person employed in any department of the Postal Service, or forwarded through or delivered from any post office or station thereof established by authority of the Postmaster General or of the Postal Service; or steals, abstracts, or removes from any such letter, package, bag, or mail, any article or thing contained therein, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.
(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 780; Pub. L. 91–375, § 6(j)(19)(A), Aug. 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 778; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(I), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147.)
heading: Historical and Revision Notes
text: Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 318 (Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 321, § 195, 35 Stat. 1125).
The provisions of said section 318 of title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., were incorporated in this section and section 1703 of this title.
The fine of “$500” was increased to “$2,000” as more proportionate to the imprisonment provision and to conform with other comparable sections. (See sections 1702 and 1708 of this title.)
Changes were made in phraseology.
heading: Amendments
text: 1994—Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $2,000”.
1970—Pub. L. 91–375 substituted “officer” for “postmaster” in section catchline, and in text substituted “Postal Service officer or employee” for “postmaster or Postal Service employee” and “entrusted” for “intrusted” and inserted “or of the Postal Service” after “Postmaster General”.
heading: Effective Date of 1970 Amendment
text: Amendment by Pub. L. 91–375 effective within 1 year after Aug. 12, 1970, on date established therefor by Board of Governors of United States Postal Service and published by it in Federal Register, see section 15(a) of Pub. L. 91–375, set out as an Effective Date note preceding section 101 of Title 39, Postal Service.
18 U.S.C. § 1710 (CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE)
§ 1710. Theft of newspapers
Whoever, being a Postal Service officer or employee, takes or steals any newspaper or package of newspapers from any post office or from any person having custody thereof, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.
(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 780; Pub. L. 91–375, § 6(j)(20), Aug. 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 778; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(B), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2146.)
heading: Historical and Revision Notes
text: Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 319 (Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 321, § 196, 35 Stat. 1126).
Theft provisions alone are retained in this section. Those relating to other offenses were incorporated in section 1703 of this title.
Words “mail or” following “steals any” were omitted as covered by section 1709 of this title.
Changes were made in phraseology.
heading: Amendments
text: 1994—Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $100”.
1970—Pub. L. 91–375 substituted “Postal Service officer or employee” for “postmaster or Postal Service employee”.
heading: Effective Date of 1970 Amendment
text: Amendment by Pub. L. 91–375 effective within 1 year after Aug. 12, 1970, on date established therefor by Board of Governors of United States Postal Service and published by it in Federal Register, see section 15(a) of Pub. L. 91–375, set out as an Effective Date note preceding section 101 of Title 39, Postal Service.