Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal ProcedureRelease 119-73
§1730 Uniforms of carriers
Title 18 › Part PART I— - CRIMES › Chapter CHAPTER 83— - POSTAL SERVICE › § 1730
Summary
Non‑letter carriers may not wear the letter‑carrier uniform or badge. Penalty: fine, jail up to six months, or both. Actors may wear it when portraying a carrier on stage, TV, or film.
Full Legal Text
Title 18, §1730
Crimes and Criminal Procedure — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Whoever, not being connected with the letter-carrier branch of the Postal Service, wears the uniform or badge which may be prescribed by the Postal Service to be worn by letter carriers, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than six months, or both. The provisions of the preceding paragraph shall not apply to an actor or actress in a theatrical, television, or motion-picture production who wears the uniform or badge of the letter-carrier branch of the Postal Service while portraying a member of that service.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Historical and Revision Notes
Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 310 (Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 321, § 187, 35 Stat. 1124). Minor verbal change was made.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1994—Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $100” in first par. 1990—Pub. L. 101–647 struck out “, if the portrayal does not tend to discredit that service” before period at end of second par. 1970—Pub. L. 91–375 substituted “Postal Service” for “Postmaster General” before “to be worn” in first par. 1968—Pub. L. 90–413 inserted provision exempting an actor or actress in a theatrical, television, or motion-picture production who wears the uniform or badge of the letter-carrier branch of the Postal Service from the penalties imposed by this section.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
of 1970 AmendmentAmendment 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.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
18 U.S.C. § 1730
Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal Procedure
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73