Is it a crime to open someone's mailbox without their knowledge?
It is illegal to open mail that is addressed to someone else.A federal law makes it a crime to do that.Under very specific circumstances, the law only applies.Take a look at the following reasons for opening mail that isn't addressed to you.
18 USC Section 1702 makes it illegal to open a letter addressed to someone else.The law cannot be applied if you didn't know that the mail was not yours.If you received several items in the mail and were opening all the envelopes without paying attention to the addressee, it is possible that you could open mail that was not yours.No crime has been committed because you didn't know the mail was from someone else.
Although you may have accidentally opened someone else's mail, what you do with it is more important.If you toss the mail in the garbage, you are obstructing the delivery of the correspondence.There may be consequences for that crime.Put the wrong address on the envelope and send it to a mailbox.The intended recipient can still receive the letter.
The U.S. is located in the United States.The postal service is concerned with mail that is stolen.Once they have delivered mail to your box, it is no longer in their possession and they are relying on you to react if correspondence has been mishandled.The statute addresses mail that is wrongly removed from Postal Service custody, such as if it is stolen from a Post Office, a letter carrier, or a mailbox.If the stolen mail is used to commit identity theft, the thief could face additional charges.
If someone opens mail that is not addressed to them with the intention of stealing, they are subject to consequences as well.If you know someone was delivered cash in an envelope or shipped an expensive item, opening the mail and taking the possessions is still a form of theft that has consequences beyond that of opening mail not addressed to you.
It is common for someone to ask a neighbor to open his mail while he is away.If he gives you permission, you can open his mail.If the person didn't ask you to open it, it's not a crime.
After a loved one has passed away, accumulating mail can attract unwanted attention.If you are an administrator, you can file a request at the Post Office to remove them from the mailing lists.
If you lived with someone who passed away and received their mail before they died, you can still open it.If you are the administrator of the deceased person's estate, you need to contact your local Post Office to forward mail to a different address.
While opening mail not addressed to you on accident or with permission is not a crime, a person whosteals mail from Postal Service custody may be looking at as much as five years in prison.That sentence may be in addition to or concurrent with other prison terms that the thief is sentenced to in relation to other crimes they may have committed after stealing the correspondence.Penalties may also be involved.It doesn't seem worth the effort to steal mail.
If you have any questions or concerns about opening mail that isn't addressed to you, you should contact your local Post Office.
Nothing on this page should be construed as legal, tax, or professional advice.The Law Dictionary is not a law firm and should not be seen as creating an attorney-client or legal adviser relationship.If you have questions about your situation, please contact an attorney.