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39 U.S.C. § 604

U.S. CodeFederalPositive Law
Seizing and detaining letters
About This Law
/us/usc/t39/s604
Title
39 — Postal Service
Chapter
PTI/CH6
Release
119-84
Release Date
2026-04-17

Section Text

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An officer or employee of the Postal Service performing duties related to the inspection of postal matters, a customs officer, or United States marshal or his deputy, may seize at any time, letters and bags, packets, or parcels containing letters which are being carried contrary to law on board any vessel or on any post road. The officer or employee who makes the seizure shall convey the articles seized to the nearest post office, or, by direction of the Postal Service or the Secretary of the Treasury, he may detain them until 2 months after the final determination of all suits and proceedings which may be brought within 6 months after the seizure against any person for sending or carrying the letters. (Pub. L. 91–375, Aug. 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 728.) Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries Effective DateSection effective July 1, 1971, pursuant to Resolution No. 71–9 of the Board of Governors. See section 15(a) of Pub. L. 91–375, set out as a note preceding section 101 of this title.

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