18-U.S.C.-1717
§1717 – Letters and Writings As Nonmailable
Pathway
Title 18 > Part I > Chapter 83 > Section 1717
Details
- Reference: Section 1717
- Legend: §1717 – Letters and Writings As Nonmailable
- USCode Year: 2013
Provision Content
(a) Every letter, writing, circular, postal card, picture, print, engraving, photograph, newspaper, pamphlet, book, or other publication, matter or thing, in violation of sections 499, 506, 793, 794, 915, 954, 956, 957, 960, 964, 1017, 1542, 1543, 1544 or 2388 of this title or which contains any matter advocating or urging treason, insurrection, or forcible resistance to any law of the United States is nonmailable and shall not be conveyed in the mails or delivered from any post office or by any letter carrier.
(b) Whoever uses or attempts to use the mails or Postal Service for the transmission of any matter declared by this section to be nonmailable, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years or both.
(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 782; Pub. L. 86–682, §12(b), Sept. 2, 1960, 74 Stat. 708; Pub. L. 91–375, §6(j)(27), Aug. 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 780; Pub. L. 101–647, title XXXV, §3552(a), Nov. 29, 1990, 104 Stat. 4926; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, §330016(1)(K), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147.)
Historical and Revision Notes
Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., §§343, 344, 345, 346 (June 15, 1917, ch. 30, title XII, §§1–3, title XIII, §1, 40 Stat. 230, 231; Mar. 28, 1940, ch. 72, §9, 54 Stat. 80).
Section consolidates said sections 343–345 of title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed. The provision as to opening letters was incorporated in paragraph (c).
Venue provisions in said section 345 of title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., were omitted as covered by section 3237 of this title.
Section 346 of title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., defining United States was omitted. It is incorporated, however, in section 5 of this title.
References in text to other sections do not include definitive sections. Only those susceptible of violation are cited.
Mandatory punishment provision was rephrased in the alternative.
Minor changes were made in arrangement, translation, and phraseology.
Amendments
1994—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 103–322 substituted fined under this title for fined not more than $5,000.
1990—Pub. L. 101–647 struck out ; opening letters after nonmailable in section catchline.
1970—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 91–375 struck out of the United States after Postal Service.
1960—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 86–682 repealed subsec. (c) which related to the opening of letters, effective Sept. 1, 1960.
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.
U.S. Encyclopedia of Law Coverage
18-U.S.C.-1701 in the Legal Encyclopedia: Criminal Law
In this entry about 18-U.S.C.-1701, find legal reference material, bibliographies and premiere content related to criminal law in the American Encyclopedia of Law, presenting a comprehensive view of the United States criminal law-specific issues, written by authorities in the field.
18-U.S.C.-1716 in the Legal Encyclopedia: Crimes
In this entry about 18-U.S.C.-1716, find legal reference material, bibliographies and premiere content related to crimes in the American Encyclopedia of Law, presenting a comprehensive view of the United States crimes-specific issues, written by authorities in the field.
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