Federal · Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal Procedure

18 U.S.C. § 1700: Desertion of mails

Misdemeanor

What this law says, in plain English

A person who abandons mail they are responsible for transporting before delivering it to the post office or authorized postal employee may be fined or imprisoned up to one year, or both.

Read the full statutory text

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.

Verify at the official source: Federal legislative text

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This page is legal information, not legal advice. Code text is sourced from official publications and may lag amendments — always confirm at the official source linked above. Plain-English summaries and relationship data are AI-derived and reviewed on an ongoing basis; verify with a licensed attorney before acting.