Mail, in the box requesting that the patron indicate thereon the date on which he will meet the carrier to receive the parcel. If the addressee has filed a written order that the Post Office Department and the carriers are relieved of all responsibility in case of loss or depredation when large parcels are placed outside boxes, the carrier will deliver large parcels outside the box. Where a patron lives within hailing distance of a route, the carrier will make a reasonable effort to hail the patron so that he may come to the mail box to receive the parcel before it is left outside the box. (d) Contagious disease. A rural carrier will deliver mail to the box of a patron where a quarantined disease exists, when this can be done without exposure to contagion; but no mail will be collected from such box while the quarantine is in force. (e) Withdrawal of service. Service will not be withdrawn from any box without specific authority from the Regional Director. [26 F.R. 11581, Dec. 6, 1961, as amended at 28 F.R. 1999, Mar. 3, 1963; 30 F.R. 13217, Oct. 16, 1965; 31 F.R. 8236, June 11, 1966. Redesignated at 31 F.R. 15350, Dec. 8, 1966] § 156.4 Payment of postage. (1) A rural (a) Acceptance of mail. carrier will accept any mailable matter provided the postage is fully prepaid or money equal to the required postage is furnished, unless the purpose of handing mail to the carrier for deposit into one office is to "boycott" another office or deDuring prive it of legitimate revenue. the month of December, however, patrons are required to affix stamps to all greeting cards and letter mail. (2) When a rural carrier finds unstamped mail in a patron's box and the requisite amount of money for postage, he will normally collect the mail and money and affix the necessary postage. Mail will be expedited throughout the year if patrons keep a supply of stamps on hand and regularly affix stamps to all first- and third-class mail. The carrier has for sale stamps, stamped envelopes, and postal cards. For convenience and safety, patrons who leave mail and money in rural mail boxes to be collected by the carrier should either wrap the money, place it in a coin-holding receptacle, or attach it to the mail by means of a clip or other suitable fastener. (b) Postage uncertain. When matter is given to a rural carrier for mailing and he is unable to determine the postage, he will accept from the sender an amount sufficient to insure full payment of postage and return to the sender on the next trip any excess amount collected. (c) Insufficient postage. When mailable matter is deposited in a box and the required postage has not been paid or sufficient money left for the purchase of stamps, the rural carrier will, when the identity of the sender is known, place in the box a notice that such matter cannot be dispatched until the necessary postage is paid. If the identity of the sender is unknown, the matter will be taken to the post office and treated as unpaid mail. (See §§ 131.4, 134.4, 135.4, and Part 147 of this chapter.) (d) Unpaid mailable matter in box. When a rural carrier finds in a rural box mailable matter on which postage has not been paid, addressed to or intended for the person in whose box it is deposited, the carrier will take such matter to the post office to be held for postage. [26 F.R. 11581, Dec. 6, 1961. at 31 F.R. 15350, Dec. 8, 1966] § 156.5 Rural boxes. (a) Specifications-(1) Redesignated Introduction. (ii) Design. Boxes are available in both traditional and contemporary styles. (iii) Deviations. In general, boxes may be constructed in any size between the maximum and minimum outside dimensions specified on the drawings provided the height, width, and length proportions and the general shape are maintained. (iv) Drawings. Construction standards and drawings for guidance in the manufacture of rural mailboxes may be obtained by writing the Assistant Postmaster General, Bureau of Operations, Washington, D.C., 20260. (3) Approval requirements. To secure approval of rural boxes, the following must be submitted to the Bureau of Operations. (i) Not less than two complete boxes of each style made of the exact materials, construction, coatings, paint, etc., to be identical in every way with the boxes intended to be marketed. (Two boxes will be damaged during testing.) (ii) The identification of all parts of the box, by material, alloy, heat treatment, and (for non-metallic parts) physical properties. (iii) The complete composition, formula, and trade name and designation, of all paints and nonmetallics. (iv) A sample showing the marking required by subparagraph (4) of this paragraph. (v) A copy of the instructions required by section .52k of the standards. (vi) Color samples showing all color schemes expected to be used. (vii) The boxes must be wrapped in the packaging proposed for shipping them. Written notification of approval or disapproval, including reasons for disapproval, will be issued. All boxes submitted will be returned, including those damaged during testing; unless the Department is authorized, in writing, to retain them. (4) Marking. All boxes shall have the following inscription legibly embossed into the door of the box (after approval of the box): "U.S. Mail" and "Approved by the Postmaster General". The name of the supplier and the month and year of manufacture shall also be noted on the box, either by embossing in small letters on the rear of the box, or by a permanent conspicuous marking on one inside wall of the box. This marking may be accomplished by embossing, stencilling, stamping, or a permanent-type decal. The address of the supplier may be included, if desired. (5) The following list includes manufacturers of rural mail boxes whose samples have been approved by the Department. Akron Metal Sales Co., 1079 E & J Street, Barberton, Ohio, 44203. American Device Manufacturing Co., 1010 West Broadway, Steeleville, Ill., 62288. American Metal Works, 4401 Brenville Avenue, New Orleans, La., 70119. Chicago Heights Furnace Supply Co., Inc., 96-104 East 22d Street, Chicago Heights, Ill., 60411. Cincinnati Pump & Manufacturing Co., 3182 Beekman Street, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45223. Conco Engineering Works, Mendata, Ill., 61342. Deshler Mail Box Co., 101 East Maple Street, Falls Stamping and Welding Co., Post Office Leigh Building Products, Coopersville, Mich., 49404. Macklanburg-Duncan Co., 4041 North Santa Superior Sheet Metal Works Co., 3201-3-5-79 Roosevelt Avenue, Indianapolis, Ind., 46218. The Steel City Manufacturing Co., Post Office The (b) Painting and identification. Department prefers that rural mail boxes and posts or supports be painted white, but they may be painted other colors if desired. It is not necessary that posts or supports and boxes be painted the same color. Where box numbers are used, the name of the owner and box number must be inscribed in contrasting color in neat letters and numerals not less than 1 inch high on the side of the box that is visible to the carrier as he regularly approaches, or on the door if boxes are grouped. Where the use of street names and house numbers has been authorized, the house number must be shown on the box. If the box is located on a different street than the patron's residence, both the street name and house number must be inscribed on the box. The placing of the owner's name on the box is optional with the patron where street and house numbers have been authorized. Advertising on boxes or supports is prohibited. (c) Posts and supports—(1) Construction. Posts or other supports for rural mail boxes must be neat and of adequate strength and size. They may not be designed to represent effigies or caricatures that would tend to disparage or ridicule any person. The box may be attached to a fixed or movable arm. (2) Newspaper receptacles. A receptacle for newspapers, not restricted to any one paper, may be placed above or below the mail box or on the post or support, provided it will not interfere with the delivery of the mail, obstruct the view of the flag, or present a hazard to the carrier or his vehicle. The receptacle must not extend beyond the front of the mail box when the box door is closed. No advertising shall be displayed on the outside of the receptacle except that the name of a publication may be shown. (d) Location. Rural boxes must be placed so that they may be safely and conveniently served by carriers without leaving their conveyances, and must be located on the right-hand side of the road in the direction of travel of the carriers in all cases where traffic conditions are such that it would be dangerous for the carriers to drive to the left in order to reach the boxes, or where their doing so would constitute a violation of traffic laws and regulations. (Exception: See § 156.3 (a) (2).) On new rural routes all boxes must be located on the right of the road in the direction of travel of the carrier. Boxes must be placed to conform with State laws and highway regulations. Rural carriers are subject to the same traffic laws and regulations as are other motorists. Patrons must remove obstructions, including snow, that make delivery difficult. (e) Grouping. Boxes should be grouped wherever possible, especially at or near cross roads, at service turnouts, or at other places where a considerable number of boxes are located. A simple and practicable support consists of a board erected on firmly planted posts. such box, is filed with the postmaster at the distributing office. (g) Locks. The use of locks on boxes is not required. If patrons provide locks, the keys should be delivered only to the postmaster, who will assign them to the carrier. The carrier will unlock and lock the boxes when serving them. To facilitate the carrier's work, patrons should, as far as practicable, adopt locks for each route of such pattern that a master key may be provided the carrier for unlocking the boxes. (h) Unstamped newspapers. Rural boxes are to be used for mail only, except that publishers of newspapers regularly mailed as second-class mail may, for Sundays and National holidays only, place copies of the Sunday or holiday issues in the rural and star-route boxes of subscribers, with the understanding that copies will be removed from the boxes before the next day on which mail deliveries are scheduled. (i) Boxes that do not conform to regulations. Rural carriers will report any boxes that do not conform to the regulations to postmasters who will send to the owners of these boxes POD Form 4056 "Your Mail Box Needs Attention" requesting that the irregularities or defects be remedied. [26 F.R. 11582, Dec. 6, 1961, as amended at 28 F.R. 2000, Mar. 1, 1963; 29 F.R. 2911, Mar. 3, 1964; 29 F.R. 14028, Oct. 10, 1964; 30 F.R. 7394, June 4, 1965; 30 F.R. 11031, Aug. 26, 1965; 30 F.R. 13217, Oct. 16, 1965; 31 F.R. 537, Jan. 15, 1966; 31 F.R. 4347, Mar. 12, 1966. Redesignated at 31 F.R. 15350, Dec. 8, 1966] AUTHORITY: The provisions of this Part 157 issued under R.S. 161, as amended; 5 U.S.C. 301, 39 U.S.C. 501, 507, 4101, 4102, 4103, 4105. § 157.1 Order to change address. (a) Ordinary mail—(1) Forwarding instructions. To have mail delivered to a new address, file Form 3575, "Change of Address Order", which is available at any post office or from any carrier. A written and signed order or a telegram is acceptable and must be sent by the patron, his agent, or person in whose care mail will be addressed. Old and new addresses must always be furnished, including the ZIP Code numbers, if known. If the ZIP Code number for new address is not shown, it will be added to the change of address order at the post office before recording. (2) Forwarding mail. Mail received at the old address will be handled as follows: (i) All first-class mail, all official mail described in Part 137 of this chapter, and all third- and fourth-class parcels of obvious value will be forwarded. (ii) Second-class, other fourth-class, and other third-class mail of obvious value (see § 158.8 of this chapter) will be forwarded only when specifically requested by the order. (iii) Third-class matter of no obvious value (see § 158.8 of this chapter), and mail addressed to "Occupant" or "Postal Patron" (see § 123.4 of this chapter) will not be forwarded. (iv) Mail bearing specific instructions of the sender "Do not forward" will not be forwarded. (3) Pledge to pay forwarding postage. The order to forward mail constitutes the pledge of the addressee to pay forwarding postage. See § 157.3. When an addressee who has pledged to pay forwarding postage refuses to pay the postage due, the postmaster must send Form 3546, "Notice to Change Forwarding Order", to the postmaster at the old address requesting him to discontinue forwarding mail of the class refused. The payment of forwarding postage may not be pledged by the mailer. (b) Registered, certified, insured, and COD mail. A Change of Address Order for ordinary mail will cover registered, certified, insured, and COD mail unless the sender has given other instructions or unless the addressee moved outside the United States. The sender's instructions should be written or printed on the envelope or wrapper. Examples: "Do not forward; If not accepted within days return to sender." Excep tions: (1) COD mail will not be forwarded to the Canal Zone nor to overseas military post offices. See § 163.2(e) of this chapter. (2) Domestic registered articles mailed outside the United States and addressed for delivery in the United States will not be forwarded to the Canal Zone if the postage indicates the articles were valued at more than $1000. Articles mailed in the Canal Zone addressed for delivery in the United States will not be forwarded to any place outside the United States if there is reason to believe the value exceeds $1000. (3) Insured and COD parcels that have the mailers' instructions to abandon or to sell perishable items, written or printed on the envelope or wrapper, will be treated according to the instructions. Examples: Do not forward or return. If not accepted within days, treat as abandoned. Notify mailer of final disposition. Do not forward or return. If undelivered after days, sell contents to highest bidder and remit proceeds, less commission, to mailer. Do not forward or return. If undeliverable after days, destroy. Notify mailer of final disposition. A commission of 10 percent, but not less than 25 cents is retained by the Postal Service from the amount for which perishable items are sold. (4) COD mail may have written or printed on it a request that it be forwarded to a new addressee. The name and address of the new addressee must be shown in a bordered space with instructions that the mail be delivered either with or without the collection of COD charges. [26 F.R. 11583, Dec. 6, 1961, as amended at 26 F.R. 11865, Dec. 12, 1961; 27 F.R. 6978, July 24, 1962; 30 F.R. 8620, July 8, 1965; 31 F.R. 11102, Aug. 20, 1966. Redesignated at 31 F.R. 15350, Dec. 8, 1966] § 157.2 Time limit of change of address order. (a) Time limit specified by addressee. To have mail forwarded for a limited time, not to exceed 2 years, state the beginning and expiration dates. The original order should be canceled when the addressee returns to his old address or moves to another permanent address within the specified period. (b) Time limit not specified by addressee. Records of permanent change of address orders, other than those subject to paragraph (c) of this section, are maintained for 2 years and the order is not renewable. Mail may continue to be forwarded beyond the 2-year period if the new address is known to the forwarding employee. (c) Change from general delivery at carrier delivery office. (1) To permanent local address. Record of change of address orders without time limit will be maintained 6 months. (2) To other than permanent local address. Record of change of address orders without time limit will be maintained for 30 days. [26 F.R. 11583, Dec. 6, 1961. Redesignated at 31 F.R. 15350, Dec. 8, 1966] § 157.3 Postage for forwarding. (a) Change in local address. If a change is made to an address served by the same post office, all first-, second-, and fourth-class mail and third-class mail of obvious value will be delivered as directed and additional postage will not be required. (See § 135.2 (b) (4) of this Chapter for local delivery.) (b) Change to another post office. Mail forwarded to another post office is subject to additional postage as follows, to be computed the same as if the piece were originally mailed at the office from which it is forwarded. (1) First-class mail. No charge is made for forwarding first-class mail, including postal and post cards, when postage has been fully prepaid by the sender. No additional charge is made for forwarding first-class mail that is not fully prepaid, but any amount shortpaid at the time of original mailing will be collected on delivery. Drop letters when forwarded are rated for collection of additional postage for the difference between the amount prepaid and the total postage computed at the first-class rate. (2) Second-class publications are subject to additional postage for forwarding at the second-class transient rate computed on each individually addressed copy or package of unaddressed copies. (3) Controlled circulation publications (see part 133 of this chapter) are subject to additional postage for forwarding at the single-piece third- or fourth-class rate according to weight. (See § 158.2(c) of this chapter.) (4) Third-class mail is subject to collection of additional postage at the single-piece rate, when forwarded. (See § 134.1(a) of this chapter.) (5) Fourth-class mail. Fourth-class mail is subject to the collection of additional postage for forwarding at the applicable rate of postage. (See § 135.1 of this chapter.) (6) Airmail. No additional charge is made for forwarding airmail articles weighing 8 ounces or less. These articles are sent by air when air service to the new address is available. First-class mail of this weight may also be for |