Tap any paragraph to write a margin note. Your notes collect in the Desk below the text and file under cases with @. The side-by-side margin rail opens on a larger screen.

Code · U.S. Code · Title 39 - POSTAL SERVICE · CHAPTER 6— PRIVATE CARRIAGE OF LETTERS · § 601

§ 601. Letters carried out of the mail

537 words·~2 min read·/usc/title-39/section-601

A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

(a)A letter may be carried out of the mails when—
(1)it is enclosed in an envelope;
(2)the amount of postage which would have been charged on the letter if it had been sent by mail is paid by stamps, or postage meter stamps, on the envelope;
(3)the envelope is properly addressed;
(4)the envelope is so sealed that the letter cannot be taken from it without defacing the envelope;
(5)any stamps on the envelope are canceled in ink by the sender; and
(6)the date of the letter, of its transmission or receipt by the carrier is endorsed on the envelope in ink.
(b)A letter may also be carried out of the mails when—
(1)the amount paid for the private carriage of the letter is at least the amount equal to 6 times the rate then currently charged for the 1st ounce of a single-piece first class letter;
(2)the letter weighs at least 12½ ounces; or
(3)such carriage is within the scope of services described by regulations of the United States Postal Service (including, in particular, sections 310.1 and 320.2–320.8 of title 39 of the Code of Federal Regulations, as in effect on July 1, 2005) that purport to permit private carriage by suspension of the operation of this section (as then in effect).
(c)Any regulations necessary to carry out this section shall be promulgated by the Postal Regulatory Commission.
(Pub. L. 91–375, Aug. 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 727; Pub. L. 109–435, title V, § 503(a), Dec. 20, 2006, 120 Stat. 3234.)
Connections91 cite this · traces to 2
11 references not yet in our index
  • Pub. L. 91–375
  • 84 Stat. 727
  • Pub. L. 109–435, title V, § 503(a)
  • 120 Stat. 3234
  • Pub. L. 109–435
  • Pub. L. 109–435, title V, § 503(b)
  • 120 Stat. 3235
  • section 15(a) of Pub. L. 91–375
  • Pub. L. 91–375, § 7
  • 84 Stat. 783
  • section 7 of Pub. L. 91–375
Citation graph
cites case law
§ 601
Letters carried out of the mail
Fed. Reg.×66
C.F.R.×18
U.S.C.×6
Stat.×1
Pub. L.Pub. L. 91–375
Stat.84 Stat. 727
Pub. L.Pub. L. 109–435, title V, § 503(a)
Stat.120 Stat. 3234
Pub. L.Pub. L. 109–435
Cites 13 · showing 7Cited by 91 across 4 sources
★   the supreme law of the land   ★
Don't Tread on Me
E Pluribus Unum — out of many, one

"If you don't know your rights, you don't have any."

Marginalia · a citizen's law index
A research desk, not legal advice. Always read the cited source before relying on a summary.
Questions or an issue? support@self-law.org
disclaimerMarginalia is a research index, not a law firm. Nothing on this site is legal, tax, or financial advice and no attorney–client relationship is formed by using it. Statutes, regulations, and case law change; summaries, search results, AI output, and member posts may be incomplete, out of date, or wrong. Any interpretation drawn from material on this site should be validated by a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction before you act on it.