Macklanburg-Duncan Co., Post Office Box Sears, Roebuck & Co., 925 South Homan Ave- Steel City Manufacturing Co., Post Office Box 1115, Youngstown, OH 44501, 1-1A-2-C Superior Sheet Metal Works Co., 3201-9 Roosevelt Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46218. 1-1A-2 The Bromwell Wire Goods Co., Michigan City, IN 46360. C The Randall Co., 801 West Eighth Street, Cincinnati, OH 45203. C Waterloo Industries, Inc., Post Office Box 209, Waterloo, IA 50704. C 1 Traditional Rural Box Size No. 1. 1A Traditional Rural Box Size No. 1A. Traditional Rural Box Size No. 2. 2 C Contemporary Style Suburban Box (also approved for use on rural routes). (b) Painting and identification. The 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 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; 30 F.R. 7394, June 4, 1965; 30 FR. 13217, Oct. 16, 1965; 31 F.R. 4347, Mar. 12, 1966; 34 F.R. 9487, June 18, 1969; 34 F.R. 9752, June 24, 1969; 34 FR. 14171, Sept. 9, 1969. 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 (f) More than one family. More than one family, but not more than five families, may use the same box, provided a written notice of agreement, signed by the heads of the families, or by the individuals who desire to join in the use of 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, change of address order at the post office before recording. (2) Forwardable 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 mail of obvious value will be forwarded. (ii) Second-class, and other thirdand fourth-class mail will be forwarded when specifically requested by the order. (iii) Mail addressed to "Occupant" or "Postal Patron" (see § 123.4 of this chapter) will not be forwarded. (iv) All third- and fourth-class mail for which the sender has guaranteed to pay the forwarding postage will be forwarded. (See §§ 158.2(d) (2) and 158.2 (e) of this chapter.). (v) 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 of this chapter. 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. (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 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; 31 F.R. 11102, Aug. 20, 1966; 33 F.R. 12285, Aug. 31, 1968. 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 & 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 weighing not more than 13 ounces including postal and post cards, when postage has been fully prepaid by the sender. No additional charge is made for forwarding first-class mail weighing not more than 13 ounces that is not fully prepaid, but any amount shortpaid at the time of original mailing will be collected on delivery. See subparagraph (6) of this paragraph for mail weighing over 13 ounces. (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. (See § 132.1 (c) of this chapter.) (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. (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 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 7 ounces or less. These articles are sent by air when air service to the new address is available. Priority mail (heavy pieces) which includes all mail weighing over 7 ounces, with postage prepaid thereon at the rates provided by § 136.1 (b) of this chapter, is forwarded by air and additional postage at the applicable rate in § 136.1 (b) between the forwarding and the delivery office will be collected on delivery. (7) Registered, certified, insured, COD, and special handling mail is forwarded without the payment of additional fees, but the ordinary forwarding postage charges, if any, must be paid. Such mail will not be forwarded to a foreign country. See 157.1(b) (2) of this chapter concerning registered mail forwarded to the Canal Zone, and § 166.4(g) of this chapter for forwarding special delivery mail. [26 F.R. 11583, Dec. 6, 1961, as amended at 26 F.R. 11865, Dec. 12, 1961; 33 FR. 12286, Aug. 31, 1968; 34 F.R. 1722, Feb. 5, 1969. Redesignated at 31 F.R. 15350, Dec. 8, 1966] § 157.4 Address changes of persons in U.S. service. All first-, second-, and fourth-class mail and third-class mail of obvious value addressed to persons in the United States service (civil and military) serving at any place where the U.S. mail service operates, whose change of address is caused by official orders, will be forwarded until it reaches the addressee and no additional postage will be charged. Second-, obvious value third-, and fourth-class mail and air parcel post so forwarded is endorsed by the forwarding office "Change of Address Due to Official Orders." This provision for free forwarding from one post office to another applies to mail for the members of the household whose change of address is caused by official orders to persons in the U.S. service. (See § 123.8 (a) and (b) of this chapter concerning residing with military personnel.) EXCEPTION: Second-class mail will not be forwarded from the United States to overseas APO addresses by military authorities. Copies of publications addressed to Army or Air Force personnel transferred to overseas assignments will be endorsed by military personnel "Forwarding prohibited, addressee assigned overseas" and returned to the post office for disposition. See § 158.2(b) of this chapter. See § 157.2 of this chapter regarding time limit of orders filled with the post office. [31 F.R. 11145, Aug. 23, 1966. Redesignated at 31 F.R. 15350, Dec. 8, 1966] § 157.5 Change in post office service. (a) Addressed to a discontinued post office. All first-, second-, and fourthclass mail and third-class mail of obvious value addressed to a discontinued post office may be forwarded to any other post office designated by the addressee without additional charge when the office to which such mail is ordered sent by the Department is not convenient for the addressee. (b) Forwarded due to change in rural delivery service. Patrons of any office who, on account of the establishment of or a change in rural delivery service, receive their first-, second-, and fourthclass mail and third-class mail of obvious value from the rural carrier of another office may have their mail sent to the latter office and delivered by rural carrier without a new prepayment of postage, provided they first file with the postmaster at the former office a written request to that effect. (c) Time limit. Time limit for forwarding is same as for order to change address. See § 157.2. Mail ad (d) Addressed to boxholder. dressed to post office, rural route, or star route boxholder (as prescribed in § 123.4 of this chapter) will be delivered to those patrons residing in the affected area until June 30 following establishment or conversion to city delivery service or for a period of 90 days, whichever is longer. [26 F.R. 11865, Dec. 12, 1961, as amended at 28 FR. 1474, Feb. 15, 1963; 28 F.R. 7833, Aug. 1, 1963. Redesignated at 31 F.R. 15350, Dec. 187 § 158.1 Provisions applicable to all classes. (a) Reasons for nondelivery. Mail that I cannot be delivered because of incomplete or incorrect address, or the removal of the addressee, or is unclaimed or refused by the addressee, will be treated in accordance with this part at the office where the mail is found to be undeliverable. This includes nixie mail which is mail not transmissible because of illegible or insufficient address. Refused mail is that which is refused at time delivery is attempted; and that returned to the mail unopened by addressee, and marked refused. Mail properly delivered and opened by the addressee will not be reaccepted without payment of new postage. Undelivered mail returned to the sender should not again be mailed unless enclosed in a new envelope or wrapper with a correct address and new postage. (b) Preparation of Form 3547. When mail bearing the words "Address Correction Requested" is to be forwarded to a new address, the carrier or clerk serving the old address will endorse the new address, including ZIP Code, on the mailing piece and send it to the inquiry section or to the clerk designated by the postmaster to receive it. The inquiry section or the designated clerk will prepare Form 3547, send it to the mailer, and forward the mailing piece to the new address. (c) Mail delivered by military personnel. The address correction service provided by § 158.2 (a), (d) (3), and (e) of this chapter is not applicable to mail addressed for delivery to the addressee by military personnel at any military installation including overseas APO's and FPO's. [33 F.R. 6933, May 8, 1968 as amended at 33 F.R. 7760, May 28, 1968; 33 F.R. 15867, Oct. 26, 1968] § 158.2 Treatment by classes. (a) First-class mail. First-class mail, except postal and post cards, is returned to the sender, if known, without additional charge. Only postal and post cards that bear the sender's address and request for return, are returned, and postage at the card rate is collected on delivery to the sender. Any postage due because of failure to fully prepay postage at the time of mailing will be collected from the sender when the undeliverable mail is returned. When first-class mail bearing the words "Address Correction Requested" is forwarded to a new ad |