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
Damage to the Delaware Memorial Bridge after a tractor-trailer crash.

Latest on the Delaware Memorial Bridge Incident: Tractor-Trailer Crosses 3 Lanes, Breaks Barrier, and Plunges into Water

A MASSIVE rescue operation is underway after a tractor trailer cab crashed…
Trump to tour Texas flood damage as the scope of the disaster tests his pledge to shutter FEMA

Trump Visits Texas to Assess Flood Damage amid Challenges to His Promise to Close FEMA

As President Donald Trump travels to Texas on Friday to witness the…
DHS arrests five illegal immigrants convicted of serious crimes, including murder and child abuse

DHS captures five undocumented individuals previously found guilty of severe offenses such as murder and child abuse

On Friday, the Department of Homeland Security reported the detention of five…
Shocking New Report About What Far-Left Mamdani Allies Might Be Planning Against Jeffries, Other Dems

Surprising Insights on Potential Strategies by Far-Left Mamdani Supporters Against Jeffries and Fellow Democrats

Democrats are going off the rails, embracing extremism.  But because it’s Democrats,…
Ex-Jaguars employee convicted of stealing $22M from team now faces state charges

Former Jaguars Worker Convicted of $22M Theft Now Faces State Charges

Amit Patel, 32, was admitted into the Duval County Jail Tuesday afternoon…
Therapist sitting in front of hyperbaric chambers.

Therapist, 43, Tragically Perishes in Fiery Blaze Inside Oxygen Chamber After Sudden Fire at His Clinic

A PHYSICAL therapist has been burned alive inside a hyperbaric oxygen chamber…
Ghislaine Maxwell follows prison fitness routine, video shows, as DOJ's Jeffrey Epstein memo draws heat

Ghislaine Maxwell Seen Adhering to Fitness Routine in Prison, Footage Shows, Amid Controversy Over DOJ’s Jeffrey Epstein Memo

July 2025 – Completion of Review Yields Limited Details The Justice Department…
Geoengineering Whistleblower Shanahan Reveals Truth

Shanahan, the Geoengineering Whistleblower, Unveils the Truth

Nicole Shanahan, RFK Jr.’s running mate, shares whistleblower details exposing ongoing U.S.…
Waycross teens killed by lightning strike, city manager says

City Manager Reports Teen Deaths from Lightning Strike in Waycross

Waycross City Manager Ulysess Rayford said the two teens were fishing when…
Florida woman Caroline Shaw arrested near Mar-a-Lago security checkpoint after saying she had an 'urgent message' for President Trump

Florida Woman Arrested Near Mar-a-Lago for Claiming She Had an ‘Urgent Message’ for Trump

A woman was taken into custody after she attempted to access Mar-a-Lago,…
Military amphibious vehicles in the water.

Observe as a Massive Fleet of New Chinese ‘Tank Boats’ Takes to the Water Amid Taiwan’s Largest War Drills Yet

DRAMATIC footage captures a fleet of Chinese tank boats charging through the…
Chicago heat wave 1995: South Loop organizers remember victims 30 years later, advocate for vulnerable Chicagoans

Remembering the 1995 Chicago Heat Wave: South Loop Group Honors Victims and Supports At-Risk Residents 30 Years On

CHICAGO (WLS) — Some warnings and procedures about extreme heat did not…