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Establishment of post offices.

Hours of business.

Post office boxes.

General delivery.

151.5 Unauthorized use of premises.

AUTHORITY: The provisions of this Part 151 issued under R.S. 161, as amended, 5 U.S.C. 301, 39 U.S.C. 309, 501, 701, 705, 707, 708, 2209, 6001, 6009.

SOURCE: The provisions of this Part 151 appear at 26 F.R. 11571, Dec. 6, 1961, unless otherwise noted. Redesignated at 31 FR. 15350, Dec. 8, 1966.

§ 151.1 Establishment of post offices.

(a) Where established. Post offices, and branches and stations, are established and maintained at such places as may be deemed necessary for the convenience of the postal patrons.

(b) Requirements-(1) Post offices. There is no fixed minimum population requirement for the establishment of an independent post office; however, this factor is given consideration in making a determination. Post offices are established when it is not possible to render adequate and satisfactory service through the post office, station or branch now serving the area, through a new station or branch or by an extension of city, rural or star route delivery. Post offices are not established solely for the purpose of providing community identity.

(2) Stations. Classified, contract and rural personnel and nonpersonnel stations are established where needed within the service limits of an independent post office. Units established within the corporate limits of the city, town or village where the main post office is located are designated as "stations."

(3) Branches. Classified, contract and rural personnel and nonpersonnel branches are established within the service limits of an independent post office. Units established outside of the corporate limits of the city, town or village where the main post office is located are designated as "branches." Classified and contract branches cannot be established at locations more than 20 miles outside the corporate limits of the city, town or village where the main post office is located and must serve a population of not less than 1,500 persons. The 20mile limitation and 1,500 population requirement does not apply to airports, military installations, rural personnel

and/or nonpersonnel branches. Where the parent post office is located in an unincorporated city, town or community, then all postal units administratively attached to that post office shall be designated as branches.

(c) Procedure. Patrons desiring a post office in their community should communicate with the Assistant Postmaster General, Bureau of Operations, Post Office Department, Washington, D.C., 20260. Requests for an independent post office should include the population to be served and specific information as to why the present postal service is not adequate and satisfactory. Requests for the establishment of classified, contract or rural personnel and/or nonpersonnel stations or branches will be made to the local postmaster who will submit the request with appropriate comments to the Regional Director.

[26 F.R. 11571, Dec. 6, 1961, as amended at 31 F.R. 8234, June 11, 1966. Redesignated at 31 F.R. 15350, Dec. 8, 1966] § 151.2 Hours of business.

(a) Business days. Post offices maintain window service for the delivery of mail and the sale of stamps every business day during the hours when the principal business houses of the community are open. Registry service and money order service are provided during the hours the postmaster determines are in accordance with the needs of the community. Post offices designated as postal-savings depositories provide for the receipt and withdrawal of deposits every weekday during the hours prescribed for the transaction of moneyorder business.

(b) Night service. Post offices are not ordinarily open for business at night. Lobbies of some post offices are open at night to permit the public to deposit mail and to obtain mail from lock boxes.

(c) Holiday service. Post offices are kept open on holidays for such time as may be necessary to meet the reasonable postal requirements of the public. Special-delivery mail is delivered on holidays, but delivery service is not given on letter carrier or rural routes. The following holidays are observed:

(1) New Year's Day, January 1. (2) Washington's Birthday, February 22.

(3) Memorial Day, May 30.

(4) Independence Day, July 4.

(5) Labor Day, first Monday in September.

(6) Veterans' Day, November 11. (7) Thanksgiving Day, fourth Thursday in November.

(8) Christmas, December 25.

(9) Other days set aside by the President as holidays.

§ 151.3 Post office boxes.

(a) Purpose of boxes. Post office boxes and drawers are for the convenience of the public in the delivery of mail. The service affords patrons privacy, and permits them to obtain mail at their convenience during the hours the lobby is kept open.

(b) How to rent a box—(1) Applications. The patron must submit Form 1093, "Application for Post Office Box," to the postmaster at the post office where the box is located. This form may be obtained from local postmaster. The application will be approved or denied by the postmaster. Furnishing false information on the application is sufficient reason for denial. When the application is approved, a box will be assigned.

(2) Known applicant. A box will be assigned immediately to a known qualified applicant upon submission of an application and payment of rent.

(3) Unknown applicant. Applications from unknown applicants must be treated as follows:

(i) The applicant must present his driver's license, military identification card, or other identification document.

Call boxes

(ii) Postmasters will verify that the applicant resides or conducts business at the addresses shown, and that the applicant is served by the telephone number shown.

(c) Rental rates—(1) Main post offices-(i) Office groups. The following nine groups are for use in determining the correct rate category for call and lockboxes at main post offices.

Group A. Post offices offering city delivery service and with the position of the postmaster ranked in salary level 17, 18, 19, or 20.

Group B. Post offices offering city delivery service and with the position of the postmaster ranked in salary level 15 or 16.

Group C. Post offices offering city delivery service and with the position of the postmaster ranked in salary level 13 or 14.

Group D. Post offices offering city delivery service and with the position of the postmaster ranked in salary levels 11 or 12.

Group E. Post offices offering city delivery service and with the position of the postmaster ranked in salary levels 8, 9, or 10.

Group F. Post offices not offering city delivery service and with the position of the postmaster ranked in salary levels 9, 10, or above.

Group G. Post offices not offering city delivery service and with the position of the postmaster ranked in salary level 8.

Group H. Post offices not offering city delivery service and with the position of the postmaster ranked in salary levels 6 or 7. Group I. All fourth-class post offices. (ii) Schedule. The quarterly box rent schedule for main post offices is as follows:

Rate per quarter

Lock boxes and drawers

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(2) Rates at stations, branches, annexes, and airport mail facilities—(1) Stations, branches, annexes, and airport mail facilities of first-class offices. (a) With the exception of rural stations and branches or stations and branches primarily servicing academic institutions (see subdivision (iii) of this subparagraph) box rent rates at stations, branches, annexes and airport mail facilities affiliated with first-class post offices, regardless of gross annual postal receipts, shall be based on the following:

(1) All classified stations, branches, and airport mail facilities, with or without city carrier service and with the position of the superintendent ranked in salary levels 10 or above, the rates are those prescribed in the box rent schedule for the first group below that of the main office.

(2) At classified stations, branches, and airport mail facilities, with or without city carrier service and with the position of the superintendent ranked in salary levels 9 or below, the rates are those prescribed in the box rent schedule for the second group below that of the main office.

(3) At designated classified stations and branches located very near the main office and at annexes, the rates shall be the same as those charged at the main office.

(4) All contract stations will charge those rates prescribed in the box rent schedule for the second group below that of the main office.

(b) All personnel rural stations and branches shall charge the fees prescribed in the box rent schedule for group I post offices.

(c) At nonpersonnel rural stations and branches, the box rent fee is 60 cents

per fiscal year. If rented after the beginning of the fiscal year, the rate is 5 cents for each month, or portion of a month, remaining in the fiscal year.

(d) Stations and branches with box equipment owned or supplied by an academic institution shall establish box rental charges in accordance with subdivision (iii) of this subparagraph. Stations and branches primarily serving academic institutions with lockbox equipment not owned or supplied by an academic institution shall charge regular applicable box rental rates.

(ii) Stations and branches of secondand third-class offices. (a) With the exception of rural stations and branches or certain stations and branches primarily servicing academic institutions, stations and branches of second- and third-class post offices will charge the same rental fees as those charged at the main office.

(b) Rural stations and branches will charge the fees prescribed in subdivision (i) (b) and (c) of this subparagraph.

(c) Stations and branches with box equipment owned or supplied by an academic institution will establish box rental charges in accordance with subdivision (iii) of this subparagraph. Stations and branches primarily servicing academic institutions with lockbox equipment not owned or supplied by the academic institution will charge regular applicable box rental rates.

(iii) Stations and branches servicing academic institutions. The following applies only to stations and branches primarily servicing academic institutions when the box equipment is owned or supplied by the academic institution:

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NOTE: This is based on adjusted gross receipts.

(ii) New units. Box rental rates at all new units placed in operation after July 1, will be based on those factors in effect on the opening date of the installation, except that when a post office is discontinued and is reestablished as a classified station or branch of another post office, the rental rates that were in effect at the discontinued post office at the beginning of the fiscal year will continue in effect during the remainder of the fiscal year at the newly established unit.

(4) When boxes of adequate size are not available. When a box large enough to accommodate the daily average mail of a patron is not available, a smaller available box may be assigned. In such cases, if the volume warrants, a bag or other container may be used in lieu of placing the mail in the box. The fee for this service will be equivalent to the rental that would be collected for the size box necessary to accommodate the average daily mail volume. If the average daily mail volume exceeds the capacity of the largest box in the installation, the

rental fee for the largest box will be collected. When there are no boxes of any size available, qualifying patrons (firms regularly receiving 50 or more letters on the first delivery trip), may be provided firm holdout service or firm call service, until a box can be assigned.

(d) Payment of box rent. Box rent must be paid in advance. Form 1538, Box rent receipt, is given for each payment. A box, except those at nonpersonnel rural stations (see subparagraph (5) of this paragraph), may be rented for the following periods: Quarterly; for the balance of the current quarter; for any number of consecutive quarters within the fiscal year; annually (July 1-June 30); or for the remaining portion of the fiscal year. Boxholders of record may during the last quarter of the fiscal year pay rent for the next consecutive quarter or quarters in the ensuing fiscal year. The rent may be paid at the option of the boxholder, as follows:

(1) Quarterly. Quarters begin July 1, October 1, January 1, and April 1. Rent may be paid anytime on or before June 30, September 30, December 31, and March 31, respectively, for any number of consecutive quarters within the fiscal year.

(2) For balance of current quarter. (i) First month of quarter: Entire quarterly rate.

(ii) Second month of quarter: Twothirds of quarterly rate. To determine the amount to be paid, multiply quarterly rate by two, and divide by three. Drop fractions of a cent.

(iii) Third month of quarter: If rented before 21st day, one-third quarterly rate. On or after the 21st day, no rent will be charged for the remaining days in the quarter, but full payment must be made for the following quarter.

(3) Annually. Rent may be paid annually any time on or before June 30. The fiscal year for box rents begins July 1 and ends June 30.

(4) For balance of fiscal year. After June 30, box rents may be paid for the remaining portion of the fiscal year. Rent must be paid for the fractional quarter, if any, computed in accordance with subparagraph (2) of this paragraph and for the remaining full quarters.

(5) At nonpersonnel rural stations and branches. Boxes at nonpersonnel rural stations and branches may be rented only on a fiscal year basis, or for the remaining portion of the fiscal year. (See subparagraph (3) of this paragraph.) For each payment collected, the rural carrier will issue Form 1096, Cash Receipt, pending issuance of Form 1538.

(e) Refund of box rent. When a box is surrendered, no portion of the rent will be refunded to a patron who has paid on a single quarterly basis. A patron renting a box for more than one quarter who surrenders the box before the end of the full period for which rent has been paid may apply for a refund of that portion of the box rent that is applicable to all remaining full quarters within the fiscal year. No refund will be made for the remaining portion of the quarter in which the box is surrendered. Application for refund should be made on Form 3533 "Application and Vouchers for Refunds of Postage and Fees." See § 147.2 of this chapter.

(f) Use of box-(1) Individuals. An individual renting a box may have placed in it:

(1) Mail addressed to himself.

(ii) Mail directed to a temporary visitor.

(iii) Mail addressed to his care or to the number of his box by persons who wish him to take care of it for them not more than 30 days.

(iv) Mail addressed to members of his family.

(v) Mail addressed to his servants or other employees who live in his house.

(vi) Mail addressed to a relative or other person who lives permanently in his house as do the other members of his family. Boarders or roomers are not considered members of the family.

(2) Firms or corporations. A firm renting a box may have placed in it:

(i) Mail addressed to its name. (ii) Mail addressed to any of its officials and office employees.

(iii) Mail addressed to any member of a firm, or members of his family, by the consent of all members of the firm

(3) Students and teachers. Mail addressed to students and teachers at an educational institution may be deposited in the box rented by the school, if consistent with the rules of the school.

(4) Public institutions. Mail addressed to inmates of a public institution may be deposited in the box rented by it, if consistent with its rules.

(5) Associations. An association or society may rent a box, but it may not be used for individual members, other than officers addressed by their official titles.

(6) Hotel or boarding house. Mail addressed to guests or transient boarders at a hotel or boarding house will be placed in the box assigned to it or its proprietor.

(7) Mail addressed to box number. Mail addressed only to a box number may be delivered to the box holder as long as no improper or unlawful business is conducted in this manner.

(g) Keys (1) Regular. A patron renting a key-type lockbox must be supplied with one or two keys, according to his needs. Renters of lockboxes are not permitted to obtain or use any keys except those issued through the post office.

(2) Additional. Keys in excess of two may be obtained from the post office on completion of Form 1094, Application for Additional Keys to Post Office Box, and payment of a 50-cent fee for each key. Under no circumstances may the boxholder or his agent obtain additional keys for the box assigned to his use from any other source or supplier.

(3) Duplicate. Duplicates of lost keys may be secured by payment of a 50-cent fee for each key.

(4) Fees not refundable. Fees for duplicate and additional keys are not refundable.

(5) Worn und broken. Worn or broken keys shall be replaced without charge if the damaged key is surrendered.

(6) Return. All keys must be returned when the box is surrendered. If the patron has lost a regular key, he must pay a fee of 50 cents for each missing key.

(h) Restrictions-(1) Improper purposes. A box will not be rented to anyone who the postmaster has good reason to believe will use it for the purpose of deception, for immoral or improper purposes, or for the conduct of a fraudulent or lottery business.

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