§1731 — Title 18 Crimes and Criminal Procedure | U.S. Code

Summary

It is illegal to put the words "United States Mail" or any similar marking on a boat, car, stagecoach, or other vehicle if that vehicle is not actually used to carry mail, or to say in a paper or anywhere else that the vehicle carries mail when it does not. Anyone who does this, and any owner or operator who lets it happen, can be fined under federal law, jailed for up to six months, or both.

Title 18, §1731

Crimes and Criminal Procedure — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

It shall be unlawful to paint, print, or in any manner to place upon or attach to any steamboat or other vessel, or any car, stagecoach, vehicle, or other conveyance, not actually used in carrying the mail, the words “United States Mail”, or any words, letters, or characters of like import; or to give notice, by publishing in any newspaper or otherwise, that any steamboat or other vessel, or any car, stagecoach, vehicle, or other conveyance, is used in carrying the mail, when the same is not actually so used. Whoever violates, and every owner, receiver, lessee, or managing operator who suffers, or permits the violation of, any provision of this section, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than six months, or both.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 311 (Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 321, § 188, 35 Stat. 1124). Reference to persons causing or procuring was omitted as unnecessary in view of definition of “principal” in section 2 of this title. The punishment provision was rewritten to conform more closely with comparable offenses in other sections. (See section 1729 and 1730 of this title.) Minor verbal changes were made.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1994—Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $500” in second par.

§1731 Vehicles falsely labeled as carriers