18 USC § 1701 - Obstruction of mails generally

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t18/s1701"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "18 USC § 1701 - Obstruction of mails generally"
title_number: 18
title_name: "CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE"
section_number: "1701"
section_name: "Obstruction of mails generally"
chapter_number: 83
chapter_name: "POSTAL SERVICE"
part_number: "I"
part_name: "CRIMES"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-21"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 778; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(B), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2146.)"
---


# § 1701. Obstruction of mails generally

Whoever knowingly and willfully obstructs or retards the passage of the mail, or any carrier or conveyance carrying the mail, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than six months, or both.

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**Source Credit**: (June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 778; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(B), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2146.)

### Historical and Revision Notes

Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., §§ 324, 325 (, §§ 201, 202, ).

Sections 324 and 325 of title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., were consolidated with changes of phraseology necessary to effect consolidation.

Words “carriage, horse, driver or”, “car, steamboat”, and “or vessel” were omitted as covered by “any carrier or conveyance”.

The punishment provision is derived from said section 324 rather than from section 325 which provided only a fine of not more than $100 and related only to ferrymen.

## Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1994— substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $100”.