2016 US Code
Title 39 - Postal Service
Part IV - Mail Matter
Chapter 30 - Nonmailable Matter
Sec. 3007 - Detention of mail for temporary periods

Download PDF
Citation 39 U.S.C. § 3007 (2016)
Section Name §3007. Detention of mail for temporary periods
Section Text

(a)(1) In preparation for or during the pendency of proceedings under section 3005, the Postal Service may, under the provisions of section 409(d), apply to the district court in any district in which mail is sent or received as part of the alleged scheme, device, lottery, gift enterprise, sweepstakes, skill contest, or facsimile check or in any district in which the defendant is found, for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction under the procedural requirements of rule 65 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.

(2)(A) Upon a proper showing, the court shall enter an order which shall—

(i) remain in effect during the pendency of the statutory proceedings, any judicial review of such proceedings, or any action to enforce orders issued under the proceedings; and

(ii) direct the detention by the postmaster, in any and all districts, of the defendant's incoming mail and outgoing mail, which is the subject of the proceedings under section 3005.


(B) A proper showing under this paragraph shall require proof of a likelihood of success on the merits of the proceedings under section 3005.

(3) Mail detained under paragraph (2) shall—

(A) be made available at the post office of mailing or delivery for examination by the defendant in the presence of a postal employee; and

(B) be delivered as addressed if such mail is not clearly shown to be the subject of proceedings under section 3005.


(4) No finding of the defendant's intent to make a false representation or to conduct a lottery is required to support the issuance of an order under this section.

(b) If any order is issued under subsection (a) and the proceedings under section 3005 are concluded with the issuance of an order under that section, any judicial review of the matter shall be in the district in which the order under subsection (a) was issued.

(c) This section does not apply to mail addressed to publishers of newspapers and other periodical publications entitled to a periodical publication rate or to mail addressed to the agents of those publishers.

Source Credit

(Pub. L. 91–375, Aug. 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 747; Pub. L. 106–168, title I, §105(a), Dec. 12, 1999, 113 Stat. 1810.)

Editorial Notes REFERENCES IN TEXT

Rule 65 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, referred to in subsec. (a)(1), is set out in the Appendix to Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure.

AMENDMENTS

1999—Pub. L. 106–168 added subsecs. (a) and (b), struck out former subsec. (a) which provided for injunctive relief and other orders by the district court in which the defendant gets his mail, and redesignated former subsec. (b) as (c).

EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1999 AMENDMENT

Amendment by Pub. L. 106–168 effective 120 days after Dec. 12, 1999, see section 111 of Pub. L. 106–168, set out as a note under section 3001 of this title.

Publication Title United States Code, 2012 Edition, Supplement 4, Title 39 - POSTAL SERVICE
Category Bills and Statutes
Collection United States Code
SuDoc Class Number Y 1.2/5:
Contained Within Title 39 - POSTAL SERVICE
PART IV - MAIL MATTER
CHAPTER 30 - NONMAILABLE MATTER
Sec. 3007 - Detention of mail for temporary periods
Contains section 3007
Date 2016
Laws In Effect As Of Date January 6, 2017
Positive Law Yes
Disposition standard
Statutes at Large References 84 Stat. 747
113 Stat. 1810
Public Law References Public Law 91-375, Public Law 106-168
Disclaimer: These codes may not be the most recent version. United States may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.