Title 18, Crimes and Criminal ProcedureRelease 119-102
§1719 Franking Privilege
Title 18 › PART I — CRIMES › CHAPTER 83 — POSTAL SERVICE › § 1719
Summary
Using official government envelopes, labels, or endorsements to avoid postage on your personal mail can mean a federal fine.
Full Legal Text
Title 18, §1719
Crimes and Criminal Procedure, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Whoever makes use of any official envelope, label, or indorsement authorized by law, to avoid the payment of postage or registry fee on his private letter, packet, package, or other matter in the mail, shall be fined under this title.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Historical and Revision Notes
Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 357 (Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 321, § 227, 35 Stat. 1134). Minor verbal change was made. section 746(f) of title 8, U.S.C., 1940 ed., Aliens and Nationality, providing same penalty for misuse of franking privilege in naturalization service, should be repealed as covered by this section. The proviso in section 337 of title 39, U.S.C., 1940 ed., The Postal Service, should also be repealed for the same reason.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1994—Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $300”.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
18 U.S.C. § 1719
Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102