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ing are returned immediately, provided return to sender can be made prior to spoilage or within the 60 hour period. (See § 152.2 (h) of this chapter.)

(3) Mail addressed and deliverable to a post office box, except registered, certified, insured, COD, and perishable, will not be returned until box is declared vacant.

(b) Registered, insured, COD, and certified mail. (1) Undelivered registered, insured, COD, and certified mail is retained for not less than 3 days, nor more than the periods specified in subparagraphs (2) through (4) of this paragraph.

(2) Registered mail is held up to 60 days if the sender so requests by endorsement on the mail. If the sender names no specific period, the mail will be held 10 days before return. Exception: If the postmaster believes he will be able to make delivery if the mail is held longer thar. 10 days, it may be held up to 60 days if written permission is obtained from the sender. (See also § 158.2(g).)

(3) Insured and certified mail is held a maximum of 15 days. It is held a lesser number of days if the sender so specifies. (See also § 158.2(g).)

(4) COD mail is held a maximum of 30 days. It is held a lesser number of days if the sender so specifies. See § 163.4 (c) of this chapter regarding notice on Form 3849-D.

(c) Special delivery and special handling mail. Special delivery and special handling articles are held for the period specified in paragraph (a) or (b) of this section, except that requests for immediate return of special delivery mail will be honored.

[30 F.R. 13320, Oct. 20, 1965, as amended at 31 F.R. 11103, Aug. 20, 1966. Redesignated at 31 F.R. 15350, Dec. 8, 1966]

§ 158.5 Disposal of undeliverable mail. Mail undeliverable at the last office of address is disposed of as follows:

(a) Postal and post cards or samples of merchandise are destroyed or sold immediately.

(b) Printed matter, including such matter as circulars, greeting cards, newspapers, magazines, and other periodical publications, obviously without value is disposed of as waste paper without examination of contents. This mail will not be torn or mutilated, before being consigned to the general waste, except when necessary to prevent improper use. Such matter as redemption coupons and

uncanceled postage stamps must be burned or mutilated to prevent improper use. Magazines shall not be separated from the general waste unless their separate bulk sale by contract as waste would result in a material advantage to the Postal Service by reason of the high quality of the paper. Under no circumstances may magazines or other periodical publications be sold at a per copy rate or at auction by the post office. Contracts negotiated for the disposal of waste should contain a provision which prohibits the resale by the contractor of copies of magazines or other periodical publications to the public for reading purposes.

(c) Domestic ordinary, insured, or COD articles bearing sender's instructions to abandon are disposed of immediately after expiration of the periods stated in § 158.4.

(d) Third-class mail of no obvious value and without sender's request for return is disposed of as waste.

(e) Insured and COD articles bearing sender's instructions to destroy will be destroyed.

(f) Packages

containing medicine, perishable articles, liquids, or other articles likely to injure employees, or damage equipment or other mail, or to attract pests, must be destroyed as soon as they are known to be undeliverable.

(g) Letters from Canada or Mexico with return addresses are returned to the postmaster at the post office of origin.

(h) Mail addressed to a deceased person is delivered to the executor or administrator of the estate or, if there is no executor or administrator, to the widow or widower or other claimants, except that U.S. Government pension mail is returned to the mailing Federal agency.

(i) Unclaimed franked mail from a Member of Congress, including that addressed under provisions of § 123.4(d) (2) of this chapter, and unclaimed official mail, including official reports and bulletins sent by State agricultural colleges and experiment stations, is returned to the postmaster at the office of origin if it is known. If office of origin is not known, the mail is sent to the post office at Washington, D.C. Undeliverable mail bearing return address of the White House, the Senate, or the House of Representatives, with or without postage stamps, is returned to the post office at Washington, D):)

(j) Santa Claus letters, with postage fully prepaid (or local unpaid or partly paid), with no identification of person for whom they are intended, are sent to institutions or persons who may request them to use for exclusively philanthropic purposes. If there is no voluntary request, they are sent to the dead mail office.

(k) An undeliverable letter bearing the return address of a hotel, motel, school, college, or other public institution printed on the envelope as an advertisement is sent to a dead letter branch for disposition unless the return address also includes the name or title of an individual or a printed or written request for return.

(1) Other mail, including first-class and airmail, bearing no return address is sent to a dead letter or dead parcel post branch for final disposition. See § 158.7 (b) (1).

(m) Coins should be stripped from undeliverable circulars and their value should be accounted for as Miscellaneous Nonpostal Receipts, A/C 40990.

§ 158.6 Directory service.

Directory service is not generally available, but at carrier offices where a directory is available, directory service is given to registered, certified, insured, COD, special delivery, and special handling mail; to perishable matter and parcels of obvious value; and to international mail, except circulars. Incorrectly or incompletely addressed mail from overseas Armed Forces is given directory service and is not returned to the sender until every effort is made to deliver it. See § 114.5 of this chapter for directory service in connection with natural disasters.

§ 158.7 Dead mail.

(a) Definition. Dead mail is matter deposited in the mail which is or becomes undeliverable, or is unmailable, and which cannot be returned to the sender.

(b) Treatment—(1) At last office of address. At the end of retention periods specified in § 158.4 mail is declared dead. Dead mail described in § 158.5 (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), and (f) is disposed of locally. First-class letters, first-class parcels, and other articles that have obvious value are forwarded on fixed schedules to dead letter or dead parcel post branches for final disposition.

(2) At dead mail office. (1) Mail is examined and opened when necessary

to find the name and address of the sender or addressee.

(1) A fee of 10 cents is charged for delivery to sender or addressee of each letter and first-class parcel opened in the dead mail office.

(iii) If the sender or addressee cannot be identified, the following retention periods are observed:

(a) Letters of domestic origin with enclosures of value, 1 year.

(b) Other letters, none.

(c) Letters containing merchandise, and third- and fourth-class mail containing valuables (including first-class mail not in the form of a letter, addressed to another country), 60 days: if posted in violation of law or treaty, 6 months.

(iv) Dead mail that cannot be delivered to addressee or sender is destroyed or sold. § 158.8

Obvious value mail.

Mail of obvious value includes, but is not limited to, all registered, insured, and COD mail, merchandise, sheet music, pictures, photographs, catalogs as defined by §§ 134.1(b) (1) and 135.2(a) (3), of this chapter and books as defined by § 135.2(a) (4) (i) of this chapter. Circulars and miscellaneous printed matter and items unsolicited by the addressee, including samples of merchandise, are not mail of obvious value.

PART 159-STAR ROUTE COLLECTION AND DELIVERY SERVICE

Sec. 159.1 159.2

159.3 159.4

Description.

Establishment.

Box delivery and collection service.
Location of boxes and receptacles.

AUTHORITY: The provisions of this Part 159 issued under R.S. 161, as amended; 5 U.S.C. 301, 39 U.S.C. 501, 6009, 6101, 6105, 6106, 6401, 6402, 6415.

§ 159.1 Description.

Star route service provides for the transportation of mail between post offices or other designated points where mail is received or dispatched. Box delivery, collection service, and other mail service are also performed on a majority of routes. Every star route carrier will receive any mail matter presented to him, if properly prepaid by stamps, and deliver it for mailing at the next post office at which he arrives.

[26 F.R. 11587, Dec. 6, 1961. Redesignated at 31 F.R. 15350, Dec. 8, 1966]

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(a) New service. Contracts for regular service are awarded after public advertisements, as provided by law. Temporary service may be established on short notice without advertising. Address requests or petitions for new routes to the Director, Transportation Division having supervision over the transportation of mail in the area involved.

(b) Changes and extensions. Changes in line of travel, and extensions of service may be ordered by the Director, Transportation Division at any time. Address requests for changes and extensions to this official.

(c) Changes in schedules. Changes in schedules may be ordered by the Director, Transportation Division at any time. Address requests for changes to this official.

[27 F.R. 6979, July 24, 1962. Redesignated at 31 F.R. 15350, Dec. 8, 1966]

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(a) Services required. Star route advertisements and contract state whether box delivery, collection service, or other mail services are required and specify the area to be served. In addition to usual box delivery and collection service, on some routes the carriers are required to:

(1) Sell stamp supplies.

(2) Deliver registered, insured, certified and COD matter.

(3) Accept matter presented by patrons to be registered, insured, certified, or mailed COD, and money with applications for noney orders and give receipts. (b) Availability. All box delivery and collection service is provided without charge to the patron. To qualify for service a patron must: (1) Reside on or near a route on which box delivery and collection service is required.

(2) Live at least one-fourth mile from a post office.

(3) Provide and erect a suitable box or provide a suitable sack or satchel with post upon which it may be hung. Where a box is newly installed or a present box is being replaced, an approved rural-type box must be used. The name and box number of the owner must be neatly inscribed in letters and numerals not less than 1 inch high on the side of the box visible to the carrier as he approaches, or on the door if boxes are grouped. (See § 156.5 of this chapter.)

(4) Request from the post office to which mail is addressed, delivery and collection service. Star route patrons residing between two post offices may receive mail service from that post office which is the one next preceding the patron's residence, or from either post office if there is a return trip. In addition, the patron may receive delivery from the post office from which the star route originates.

(5) Where necessary advise carrier of signal to be used to indicate that mail is to be collected.

(6) Meet carrier to get receipts for money order, insured, certified, and COD mail, where those services are provided.

(c) Delivery of mail. Mail matter addressed to a qualified patron of a star route will be taken by the carrier from the post office and deposited into the proper mail box. If required by the contract, the carrier will deliver registered, insured, certified, and COD mail. Delivery of this mail will be made only when patron meets the carrier at the box or along the route. Parcel post packages too large to go into mail boxes may be delivered outside of boxes, provided the addressee has filed with the postmaster a written request for delivery in that manner. Otherwise, notice will be left in patron's box to meet carrier on next trip. If proper delivery cannot be made by carrier, the mail will be held at the post office as described in Part 158 of this chapter.

(d) Collection of mail. Mail matter properly stamped and placed in a mail box for dispatch must be collected by the carrier and deposited in the next post office at which the carrier arrives unless otherwise directed by the Department. Mail collected on the route, addressed for delivery on that part of the route still to be covered before reaching the next post office, will be delivered on the day of collection. The carrier will cancel the stamps before delivery by writing across them the name of the post office last served, the State, the date and the number of the route. Bulky mailable matter, properly prepared and stamped, will be collected by the carrier if placed on or near the mail box. Money left in mail boxes for the purchase of stamps will be at the risk of the patron.

[26 F.R. 11587, Dec. 6, 1961, as amended at 28 F.R. 1508, Feb. 16, 1963. Redesignated at 31 F.R. 15350, Dec. 8, 1966]

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Mail boxes and approved sacks or satchels must be placed where they protect the mail and may be conveniently served by the carrier without leaving his vehicle. They must be located on the right side of the road in the direction of travel when required by traffic conditions or when driving to the left in order to reach the boxes would constitute a violation of traffic laws by the carrier. In such cases, patrons desiring service on both outward and return trips of carrier must furnish a box, sack, or satchel on each side of the road.

[26 F.R. 11587, Dec. 6, 1961. Redesignated at 31 F.R. 15350, Dec. 8, 1966]

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For articles not covered by commercial or other insurance

$0.75

1.00

1.25

1.50

1.75

2.00

2.25

2.50

2.75

3.00

3.25

3.50

3.75

4.00 4.25

For articles also covered by commercial or other insurance

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$1,000,000.01 to $15,000,000.....

Over $15,000,000....

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ADDITIONAL SERVICES

Extra fee

(cents)

COD (Maximum amount collectible is

$200)

60

RESTRICTED DELIVERY.

50

RETURN RECEIPTS:

Requested at time of mailing:

Showing to whom and when de

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(b) Postal insurance

liability—(1)

Without other insurance. Postal insurance covers value up to the maximum of $10,000, except as provided in subparagraph (3) of this paragraph.

(2) With other insurance. Postal insurance liability is limited to a maximum of $1,000. Whenever postal insurance and other insurance both apply to the first $1,000 of value or any part thereof, postal liability is assumed on a co-insurance basis and prorated according to the formula in Part 164 of this chapter.

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(a) What may be registered. All mailable matter prepaid with postage at the first class or airmail rate may be registered. Stamps or meter stamps must be attached to the mail representing all postage and fee charges. Business reply mail may not be registered unless postage and all fees are fully prepaid.

(b) Where to mail. Registration may be obtained by presenting mail to:

(1) Post offices and their branches and stations. Postmasters will accept mail of unusually high value only at the main office or the larger branches and stations.

(2) Rural carriers. Mail and cash may be left in a rural box, and the change, if any, will be handed to the sender or placed in an envelope and left in the box on the carrier's next trip. No responsibility is assumed for articles or

Kind of Mail Matter

money until a receipt is issued, or for any change placed in the box.

(c) Registration not available. Mail may not be registered if:

(2) Addressed to post offices to which it cannot be transported with safety.

(3) Nonpersonnel rural station and branches. Patrons must meet the rural carrier at the nonpersonnel rural station or branch to have mail registered.

(3) Not properly prepared. See § 161.7. (4) Two or more articles are tied or (1) Placed in street letter boxes or in mail drops in post offices.

fastened together, unless enclosed in the same envelope or wrapper.

[26 F.R. 11587, Dec. 6, 1961, as amended at 27 F.R. 6979, July 24, 1962; 31 F.R. 8236, June 11, 1966. Redesignated at 31 F.R. 15350, Dec. 8, 1966]

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No value or replacement cost if postal insurance coverage is desired.

Negotiable instruments: Instruments payable to bearer, Market value. and matured interest coupons. Nonnegotiable instruments: All registered bonds, warehouse receipts, checks, drafts, deeds, wills, abstracts, and similar documents. Certificates of stock, including those endorsed in blank, are considered nonnegotiable so far as declaration of value is concerned. Money__.

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Full value.

Market value or cost.

Market value or cost.

No value, or replacement cost if postal insurance coverage is desired.

(b) Fragile mail. The sender is required to tell the postal clerk whether the mail is fragile and to describe how it is packed if requested to do so.

(c) Official mail. Government agencies or officials must declare the value of the matter presented, so that it may be given proper care.

(d) Free registration. A declaration of value is not required on mail registered free under the provisions of § 161.6 (d) and (e). No indemnity will be paid for any matter registered free.

[26 F.R. 11587, Dec. 6, 1961, as amended at 31 F.R. 5198, Mar. 31, 1966. Redesignated at 31 F.R. 15350, Dec. 8, 1966]

§ 161.5

Additional services and refunds.

(a) COD service. A combined registry and COD service is available. The regular registered mail fees apply plus the collection charge specified in § 161.2(a). The mail must conform with other registered mail requirements and also with Part 163 of this chapter governing preparation for COD service.

(b) Return receipts. The sender may obtain return receipts by paying fees, in addition to the registration fee and postage, under the following conditions;

(1) At the time of mailing by informing the postal clerk or by writing on the

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