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(a) Whoever, being a Postal Service officer or employee, unlawfully secretes, destroys, detains, delays, or opens any letter, postal card, package, bag, or mail entrusted to him or which shall come into his possession, and which was intended to be conveyed by mail, or carried or delivered by any carrier or other employee of the Postal Service, or forwarded through or delivered from any post office or station thereof established by authority of the Postmaster General or the Postal Service, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both. (b) Whoever, being a Postal Service officer or employee, improperly detains, delays, or destroys any newspaper, or permits any other person to detain, delay, or destroy the same, or opens, or permits any other person to open, any mail or package of newspapers not directed to the office where he is employed; or Whoever, without authority, opens, or destroys any mail or package of newspapers not directed to him, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.
Wiki User
∙ 12y ago
Wiki User
∙ 10y agoFor the same reason that anything else that's illegal is illegal: lawmakers passed a law saying it was.
The reasoning behind the law in this case is pretty clear:
The US Postal Service is an agency of the US government (even though it's been quasi-independent since 1971). The US government therefore has a vested interest in protecting the mail.
Wiki User
∙ 14y agoYes, it is a federal offense to open someone else mail without there consent.
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoyes it is because if it is not adressed to you i can tell you please do not open it
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Is it illegal to open someone elses mail in NZ?
Yes, section 23 of the Postal Services Avt 1998.
Is it legal to open someone elses business mail.?
No, actually. It's not only illegal, it's also very inconsiderate.
Can a parent open a 19 year old mail with out permission?
It isn't ok for anyone to open anyone else's mail. Apart from being a criminal offence, it is an invasion of privacy.
Is it illegal for someone to take a bank statement addressed to two other people from one of their houses and open it?
Yes tampering with someone elses mail or mailbox is a federal offense.
Is it a crime to open a mothers mail and then using it to call bank for greed?
Yes, It is a Federal NO NO to open someone elses mail. and to impersinate someone to a Bank its also Federal NO NO. You just dont do stupid things like that.
Can I put mail in someone else's mailbox?
no it is illegal t open someone else's mailbox
If someone gives you someone elses mail?
It's actually against the law to open someone else's mail. You can put it back in your mailbox so it can be sent to the right address, or you can get a pen & write 'return to sender' on the envelope.
If someone has mail sent to them at your address and you know that the mail containts illegal narcotics and you open the mail and dispose of the contents can you be charged with opening their mail?
In theory, yes, but how likely are they to press charges, under the circumstances?
Is it illegal to go into another persons mailbox and check their mail to see what they got with out their permission?
Yes. It is illegal for you to open anyone else's mailbox for ANY reason. You are not allowed to put anything into someone's mail box, either.
In Canada is it illegal to read other peoples mail without permission?
Yes, It is a federal crime if there is no permission.
Is it illegal to open a family members mail?
YES.
Is it illegal to open someone else's paycheck?
It is not illegal to take another employees paycheck to them if it is just being delivered. Legal issues would arise if the check was taken and not delivered or if it was fraudulently used for other purposes.
