18 USC § 1719 - Franking privilege

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t18/s1719"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "18 USC § 1719 - Franking privilege"
title_number: 18
title_name: "CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE"
section_number: "1719"
section_name: "Franking privilege"
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. 783; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(F), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147.)"
---


# § 1719. Franking privilege

Whoever makes use of any official envelope, label, or indorsement authorized by law, to avoid the payment of postage or registry fee on his private letter, packet, package, or other matter in the mail, shall be fined under this title.

---

**Source Credit**: (June 25, 1948, ch. 645. 62 Stat. 783; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(F), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147.)

### Historical and Revision Notes

Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 357 (, ).

Minor verbal change was made. , U.S.C., 1940 ed., Aliens and Nationality, providing same penalty for misuse of franking privilege in naturalization service, should be repealed as covered by this section. The proviso in , U.S.C., 1940 ed., The Postal Service, should also be repealed for the same reason.

## Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1994— substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $300”.