§ 1723. — Avoidance of postage by using lower class matter.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 18USC1723]
TITLE 18--CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
PART I--CRIMES
CHAPTER 83--POSTAL SERVICE
Sec. 1723. Avoidance of postage by using lower class matter
Matter of the second, third, or fourth class containing any writing
or printing in addition to the original matter, other than as authorized
by law, shall not be admitted to the mails, nor delivered, except upon
payment of postage for matter of the first class, deducting therefrom
any amount which may have been prepaid by stamps affixed, unless by
direction of a duly authorized officer of the Postal Service such
postage shall be remitted.
Whoever knowingly conceals or incloses any matter of a higher class
in that of a lower class, and deposits the same for conveyance by mail,
at a less rate than would be charged for such higher class matter, shall
be fined under this title.
(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 784; Pub. L. 91-375, Sec. 6(j)(31),
Aug. 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 780; Pub. L. 103-322, title XXXIII,
Sec. 330016(1)(B), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2146.)
Historical and Revision Notes
Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., Sec. 351 (Mar. 4, 1909, ch.
321, Sec. 221, 35 Stat. 1132).
Reference to persons causing or procuring was omitted as unnecessary
in view of definition of ``principal'' in section 2 of this title.
Minor verbal changes were made.
Amendments
1994--Pub. L. 103-322 substituted ``fined under this title'' for
``fined not more than $100'' in second par.
1970--Pub. L. 91-375 substituted ``a duly authorized officer of the
Postal Service'' for ``Postmaster General'' in first par.
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.
