A hand retrieving mail from a mailbox.
Share this @internewscast.com

LAWMAKERS are cracking down on a key mail issue with a new USPS law that threatens violators with $2,500 fines and even jail time.

USPS customers should handle letters and packages carefully, or they could have both state and federal prosecutors coming for them.

A hand retrieving mail from a mailbox.
A new law affecting USPS deliveries is coming into effect on July 1Credit: Getty
Two United States Postal Service mailboxes on a city sidewalk.
Customers need to be careful how they treat other people’s mailCredit: Getty

The new law is coming into effect on July 1, and it will affect everyone who lives in Virginia.

Under the new legislation, it’s considered a state felony if you steal or tamper with mail sent through the USPS.

This is already considered a felony on the federal level, so the new law gives law enforcement an extra layer of punishment for criminals.

“The aim was to replicate the federal statute to equip prosecutors with an additional resource,” explained Senator Saddam Salim, a Democrat and co-author of the legislation, in an interview with CBS affiliate WTVR.

The law came after a spate of mail thefts that plagued Virginians and left them missing bills or without essential Social Security checks.

In March, four people were arrested for running a “mail theft and bank fraud ring” where they yanked keys from mailmen and plundered boxes.

The confrontations became so heated that one of the criminals was shot by a mail inspector after one of the thieves tried to mow him down with a car.

Lawmakers say they’ve been fighting for elderly constituents who rely on physical mail daily.

“When you have grandma or whoever, they still receive Social Security checks and other information via mail,” said Salim.

“And if that goes missing, they have to call into those offices get it reissued. That takes a lot of time.”

New USPS CEO David Steiner sends clear message about agency’s future & ‘challenges’ after fears services would be axed

Salim hopes that giving state prosecutors the power to enforce this law will free up federal attorneys who don’t have the capacity to pursue the cases.

He also noted that now, any person who steals important documents will be punished based on how much the information is worth.

Previously, prosecutors could only charge based on the value of the physical papers.

Taking a package from the porch isn’t the only way that people can get dinged under the crackdown.

Lawmakers warned that anyone who damages a mailbox can also be prosecuted under the new guidelines.

Four changes needed at USPS

THE head of the US Postal Service issued an urgent warning about changes needed at the agency. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy laid out four big challenges in a letter to Congress in March:

  • Retail Leases: DeJoy asked for help reviewing nearly 31,000 retail centers and the challenges of renewing leases due to ownership consolidation, urban development, and rising rental rates as long-term leases expire.
  • Counterfeit Postage Crackdown: DeJoy highlighted USPS is combating an estimated $1 billion issue with counterfeit postage and called for “additional innovative solutions” to tackle the problem.
  • Federal Law: DeJoy stated unfunded congressional mandates imposed by legislation are costing USPS between $6 billion and $11 billion annually.
  • Regulations: DeJoy criticized “burdensome regulatory requirements” that limit USPS’s ability to operate normally, estimating that the Postal Regulatory Commission has caused over $50 billion in damage with defective pricing models.

Source: AXIOS

USPS UPDATES

USPS experienced a recent shakeup as a new postmaster general was appointed.

David Steiner, who was previously a FedEx board member, is now leading the agency, and he said he was excited to take the helm.

“I am excited by the challenges ahead and by the many opportunities to shape a vibrant, durable, and increasingly competitive future for the Postal Service,” he said after accepting the job.

Meanwhile, the USPS recently warned of price changes and closures under an incoming overhaul.

And the service warned of a “washed” check scam that’s plaguing customers.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
New Jersey man Ishaan Sharma gets pummeled after instigating fight on Frontier Airline flight

New Jersey Man Ishaan Sharma Gets Beaten After Provoking Fight on Frontier Airlines Flight

He took the black-eye flight. A man from New Jersey ended up…
House GOP set to vote on Trump's $4.5T tax cuts package

House Republicans Prepare to Vote on Trump’s $4.5 Trillion Tax Cut Plan

Democrats are unified in opposing the bill, which will become a significant…
Iran nuclear program set back 2 years after US strikes: Pentagon

U.S. Strikes Delay Iran’s Nuclear Program by 2 Years: Pentagon Reports

The “bunker busting” bombs released on Iranian nuclear sites by U.S. forces…
Several people injured after shooting incident at Georgia shopping mall: police

Multiple Injuries Reported Following Shooting at Georgia Mall, Police Say

Several people, including one juvenile, were injured at a mall in Savannah,…
Supreme Court will take up a new case about which school sports teams transgender students can join

Supreme Court to Consider Case on Transgender Student Participation in School Sports Teams

The Supreme Court announced on Thursday its decision to review a case…
Monsoon season brings the promise of rain for the arid southwestern US

Monsoon Season Brings Much-Needed Rainfall to the Dry Southwestern U.S.

ESPAÑOLA, N.M. (AP) — Clouds gather in the early afternoon, and gusty…
Why it would be tough for Mets, others to acquire Brewers veteran

Why Acquiring Brewers Veteran Might Be Challenging for the Mets and Others

The Mets are in need of an additional starting pitcher, along with…
DOJ indicts suspect who went viral for delivering protective gear to anti-ICE protesters on live TV

DOJ Charges Viral Figure for Supplying Protective Gear to Protesters Opposing ICE on Live TV

A man who gained viral attention after being seen on live television…
Tax cuts explained: What's in Trump's Big, Beautiful Bill that passed Congress and will soon become law

Understanding Trump’s Tax Cuts: Key Features of the Newly Passed Bill

Republicans successfully pushed President Donald Trump’s tax and spending cut bill through…
Rep. Angie Nixon on new ICE facility at Camp Blanding

Congresswoman Angie Nixon Discusses New ICE Facility at Camp Blanding

Gov. Ron DeSantis announces that construction of a new ICE detention facility…
Rep. Eugene Vindman is 'furious' about US pause on weapons to Ukraine

Rep. Eugene Vindman ‘outraged’ by U.S. decision to halt arms to Ukraine

Democratic Rep. Eugene Vindman said he is “furious” that the Pentagon has…
Gunslinging rabbi hunts neo-Nazis in movie 'Guns & Moses'

Rabbi with a Gun Takes on Neo-Nazis in the Film ‘Guns & Moses’

These Hollywood Jews take “movie shoot” to a whole new level.  “Guns…