Us Code § 1707 - Theft of property used by Postal Service
Full text of Us Code United States Code § 1707 — Theft of property used by Postal Service, with citation guidance and answers to common questions.
§ 1707. Theft of property used by Postal Service
Whoever steals, purloins, or embezzles any property used by the Postal Service, or appropriates any such property to his own or any other than its proper use, or conveys away any such property to the hindrance or detriment of the public service, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than three years, or both; but if the value of such property does not exceed $1,000, he shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.
(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 779; Pub. L. 91–375, §6(j)(18), Aug. 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 778; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, §330016(1)(G), (H), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147; Pub. L. 104–294, title VI, §606(a), Oct. 11, 1996, 110 Stat. 3511.)
Historical and Revision Notes
Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., §313 (Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 321, §190, 35 Stat. 1124).
The phrase "used by" was substituted for "in use by or belonging to" in order to limit the application of the section to property used by the Post Office Department. Theft of public property belonging to governmental departments is covered by section 641 of this title.
A fine of "$1,000" was substituted for "$200," thus increasing the maximum to conform with other comparable sections. (See section 1705 of this title.)
The smaller penalty for an offense involving property valued at $100 or less was added. (See reviser's notes under sections 641 and 645 of this title.)
Minor changes in phraseology were made.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1996—Pub. L. 104–294 substituted "$1,000" for "$100".
1994—Pub. L. 103–322 substituted "fined under this title" for "fined not more than $1,000" after "service, shall be" and for "fined not more than $500" after "he shall be".
1970—Pub. L. 91–375 substituted "Postal Service" for "Post Office Department".
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1970 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 91–375 effective within 1 year after Aug. 12, 1970, on date established therefor by Board of Governors of United States Postal Service and published by it in Federal Register, see section 15(a) of Pub. L. 91–375, set out as an Effective Date note preceding section 101 of Title 39, Postal Service.
About This Section
18 U.S.C. § 1707 is part of Title 18 of the United States Code. The United States Code is the official codification of federal statutes maintained by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel of the U.S. House of Representatives. Congress amends the Code through new public laws, which are eventually incorporated into the relevant title.
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