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TxSup
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I'm assuming that you're thinking of a situation where you just get someone else's mail in your box, take it inside your home, and then see it's not yours? This happens to everyone, so do we all commit a crime under the US Code when we toss the mail? Good question, but you don't have a full informed answer despite 30 replies here.
You need to do further research, but this may put you on the track. As others have said, federal law applies, and it would be the same in all states. So the answer is contained in federal law, the US Code and regulations.
My, semi-informed guess is that if you've taken it out of your mailbox, it's been delivered, it's out of the mailstream, and not subject to the laws cited by some answerers. You can do what you want with it, legally.
However, you can't take advantage of the misdelivery to commit a crime. For example you can't cash a check made out to some other person -- you can't sell a batch of prescription drugs misdelivered to you -- but these would be separate crimes.
If all you're doing is tossing misdelivered mail, my guess is no crime. Good luck searching for an authoritative answer -- your local post office knows! |
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Lottie W
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It is a Federal crime to destroy or open mail that is not addresed to you.
Write the words "Addressee unknown. Return to Sender" on it and throw it in a mailbox. If you know the person it was addressed to, like your ex or your cousin or roommate, you might write: No longer at this address.
If the mail says :Joe Blow or Current Occupant, that's you.
Do unto others, honey, especially if it is a check or a bill or insurance papers. Be a hero. |
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Demun
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Yes, it is a crime to destroy, open, or tamper with any mail that doesn't have YOUR name on it |
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shannonscorpio
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Yes, it's illegal. Write on the envelope "incorrect address" and the post office will take it away. |
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Jacks036
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I know it is annoying to keep getting other people's mail. It happens to me all of the time because we have 3 or 4 streets together that begin with the letter C. Just put it into the mailbox. Underline the address first. One time they kept sending it back to me with the wrong name and right address. I just waited for the postman and told him I didn't want to see it anymore. It is against the law to destroy it. It is very bothersome. |
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James
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It is a federal crime to either open mail not addressed to you or impede the delivery of mail to its intended recipient. Some states may have additional jurisdiction on this issue. |
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howlincoyote
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It is illegal to open anything that doesn't have your name on it unless you have permission from such person, though it is regulary done in the prison system and I do believe the Bush administration is also doing this at this time.....
http://www.usps.com/postalinspectors/usc18/theft.htm |
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Curious1usa
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Make no mistake, it is a Federal offense to dispose of 1st Class mail that is not addressed to you.. |
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Ambervisions
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I don't know about legal.......but morally............do unto others. I would hope that if a letter was misdelivered that someone would put it back in the mail. It only takes a second and its a good deposit in the Karma bank! |
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elgil
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If they catch you, they can prosecute you. |
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♠♣♥Rogue♣♥â™
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its a federal offense. |
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slabsidebass
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it is a federal crime. |
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alfjr24
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yes, you should just put it back, and they'll pick it up the next day and send it back... |
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Jet
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That would be a federal issue not governed by the state |
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some polisci major
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It's a crime to destroy mail not addressed to you |
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tweetymay
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I believe that is illegal. When this happens to me, if the address is correct, but not the person it is addressed to, I simply put "NOT AT THIS ADDRESS" ,, and drop in the mail. If it isn't my address, then I just drop it in the box as is.
I would want someone to do the same for me. |
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Emma H
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i always open it lol |
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mthtchr05
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I don't think so, but it's something that should probably be shreded. |
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NONAME
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I get others mail all the time..toss it!! |
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flyer
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I constantly throw out mail. Im no mailman so its not my job redeliver or sort other peoples mail. People need to change their own address when they move-thats not my job. Recycle that s.hi.t! |
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PiccChick12
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It is against Federal Law to tamper with other people's mail. i would assume that it is against the law to throw away someone else's mail just because it came to you by accident. All you have to do is write "Wrong address" on the envelope and drop it back in a mailbox. |
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princesagypsymystic83
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I am not sure. But they always say it's better to write on the mail that doesn't belong to you. That say " THIS PERSON DOESN'T LIVE HERE". and put it back in your mail box. The mail man would pick it up and take it back to his work site |
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DAVID K
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Yes.
Believe it or not, it's a FEDERAL offence. How they would track that, I don't know, but it is absolutely a crime. |
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collie_brawny
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I don't think it would be a crime, but it would not be nice. The mailman or somebody else made the mistake, after all. But if it was your mail, you'd probably want to receive it too. |
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lulu
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i dun think so...but i think its juz plain mean... |
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me
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I don't know how they would catch you. |
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jnothingxx
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why not just drop it off to the post office and tell them it is being mis delivered, if no one knows, then the problem will never be fixed. |
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Rosa
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ask your local post master they can tell yuo, here in ohio we just write return to sender and put it in the mail |
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I'm as cool as ice cubes
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yes it is, by law u are supposed to return the mail to the postmaster or your mail carrier. |
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Allen
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yes thats a federal affense just put it back in your mailbox with the flag up |
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Stephanie S
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I don't know, but I've totally done that before. I can't help it if the wrong mail was delivered to me, and why should I have to go to the post office to return it? I mean it would be the nice thing to do, but are you going to be arrested or receive a citation for not returning the mail? I doubt it. |
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james
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It seems like everyone is in agreement that it is illegal to keep misdelivered mail. I don't know when this change came about. years ago, the USPS would run ads that said anything delivered to your address by accident was yours to keep... the one i remember was of a couple of eskimos coming out of their igloo with a fan (or AC unit) that was mistakenly delivered to their home (igloo). |
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