§ 1707. — Theft of property used by Postal Service.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 18USC1707]
TITLE 18--CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
PART I--CRIMES
CHAPTER 83--POSTAL SERVICE
Sec. 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, Sec. 6(j)(18),
Aug. 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 778; Pub. L. 103-322, title XXXIII,
Sec. 330016(1)(G), (H), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147; Pub. L. 104-294,
title VI, Sec. 606(a), Oct. 11, 1996, 110 Stat. 3511.)
Historical and Revision Notes
Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., Sec. 313 (Mar. 4, 1909, ch.
321, Sec. 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.
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''.
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.
