2012 US Code
Title 18 - Crimes and Criminal Procedure
Part I - CRIMES (§§ 1 - 2725)
Chapter 83 - POSTAL SERVICE (§§ 1691 - 1738)
Section 1705 - Destruction of letter boxes or mail

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Metadata
Publication TitleUnited States Code, 2012 Edition, Title 18 - CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
CategoryBills and Statutes
CollectionUnited States Code
SuDoc Class NumberY 1.2/5:
Contained WithinTitle 18 - CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
PART I - CRIMES
CHAPTER 83 - POSTAL SERVICE
Sec. 1705 - Destruction of letter boxes or mail
Containssection 1705
Date2012
Laws in Effect as of DateJanuary 15, 2013
Positive LawYes
Dispositionstandard
Source CreditJune 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.
Statutes at Large References35 Stat. 1126
39 Stat. 162, 418
48 Stat. 667
62 Stat. 779
63 Stat. 95
108 Stat. 2147
116 Stat. 1805
Public Law ReferencesPublic Law 103-322, Public Law 107-273

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POSTAL SERVICE - 18 U.S.C. § 1705 (2012)
§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.)

Historical and Revision Notes 1948 Act

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.

1949 Act

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.)

Amendments

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.

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