AUTHORITY: The provisions of this Part 56 issued under R.S. 161, as amended; 5 U.S.C. 22, 39 U.S.C. 501, 507, 707, 6006, 6007.

§ 56.1 Description of special delivery.

(a) Points of delivery. Special-delivery mail is given immediate delivery at the office of address during prescribed hours to:

(1) Points within a radius of 1 mile of any post office, station, or branch (except contract station or branch and rural station).

(2) Points within the delivery limits of any post office having letter carrier service.

(3) Points within one-half mile of a rural route by rural carrier on his regular trip, if there is a passable road leading to the addressee's dwelling or place of business.

(4) Points within one-half mile of a star route by the star route carrier who may make such delivery on his regular trip if the deviation from his regular route will not delay him in meeting schedule requirements.

(b) Transporting and delivering. Special-delivery mail is handled and transported in the same manner and with the same expedition as first-class mail. Payment of a special-delivery fee does not insure safety of delivery or provide for the payment of indemnity. Money or other valuables sent special delivery should also be registered. Insured, certified, and COD mail may be sent special delivery.

[26 F.R. 11594, Dec. 6, 1961, as amended at 30 F.R. 8622, July 8, 1965]

Class of mail

Weight

More

Not more than 2

than 2

More

lbs. but

than 10

not more

lbs.

lbs.

than 10

lbs.

Cents

Cents

Cents

First class and airmail (including air parcel post)... All other classes..

30

45

55

(b) Prepayment of fee. Prepay the special-delivery fee by special-delivery stamps, ordinary postage stamps, or meter stamps. The special-delivery fee must be prepaid in addition to regular postage. Official matter in penalty or franked envelopes is not entitled to free special delivery, except urgent official communications of the Postal Service.

(c) Marking. You should mark prominently the words "Special Delivery" preferably below the postage and above the name of the addressee as follows:

Frank B. White 2416 Front Street St. Louis, Mo. 63125

SPECIAL DELIVERY

Mr. Henry Brown

24789 Alaska Avenue

Chicago, Illinois 60652

[26 F.R. 11594, Dec. 6, 1961, as amended at 30 F.R. 8622, July 8, 1965]

§ 56.3 Hours of delivery.

(a) Weekdays. Normally, special delivery is made at city delivery offices from 7 a.m., to 11 p.m., and at all other post offices from 7 a.m., until the closing hour but not later than 9 p.m. Later hours for delivery may be fixed in particular cases.

(b) Sundays and holidays. Special delivery is made at first- and secondclass offices on Sunday and at other offices if the mail or mails arrive between the closing hour on Saturday and 6 p. m.

on Sunday. Special delivery is made at all offices on holidays. [26 F.R. 11594, Dec. 6, 1961]

§ 56.4 Delivery procedures.

(a) To whom delivery may be made. Ordinary special-delivery mail is delivered to the addressee or to anyone authorized to receive his mail. At lettercarrier offices, special-delivery mail, other than registered and insured, addressed to a post office box, or to the general delivery, is delivered to the box or held for delivery through the general delivery window, unless the addressee has given written notice that such mail be delivered to his residence or place of business. When specialdelivery mail is received at a lettercarrier office addressed to a street address and the addressee usually receives his mail through a post office box or through the general-delivery window, the mail is delivered as addressed, unless the addressee files a written notice directing delivery to his box or through the general-delivery window. At offices not having letter-carrier service, all specialdelivery mail is delivered to the residence or place of business of the addressee, unless the addressee files a written request that such mail be deposited in his post office box or held for delivery through the general-delivery window.

(b) Delivery in mail receptacles. When no one is at the address to receive mail, the messenger, if he can determine that the occupants are absent for not more than 1 day, will leave the mail and a notice on Form 3955 "Special Delivery Notice."

delivery.

(c) Notice of attempted When mail cannot be delivered as described in paragraph (b) of this section, the notice Form 3955, left on the doorknob or handle, under the door or in the receptacle, will state where the special delivery mail is being held, the name of the addressee, the messenger's number, the date, and whether it is registered, insured, COD, certified, or marked or known to be perishable.

(d) Delivery to rural boxes. Specialdelivery mail for an addressee who lives more than one-half mile from the rural route is delivered to his box. If he lives within one-half mile of the route and delivery cannot be made to his residence or place of business, it is deposited in

his box, and a notice of non-delivery on Form 3955 is left at his residence or place of business. (See § 46.3 (b) of this chapter for parcels that are too large for the box.)

(e) By star route carriers. Star route carriers may make delivery of special delivery matter to a patron's residence or place of business if it is located within one-half mile of the route, the road is passable, and this deviation from the regular route will not delay the carrier in meeting schedule requirements. delivery is attempted and cannot be made to a patron's residence or place of business, the special delivery matter is deposited in his box and a notice of nondelivery on Form 3955 is left at his residence or place of business.

If

(f) Military posts and camps. No special-delivery service is provided by military personnel at military posts and camps. Special delivery by messenger is made only to addresses such as officer's homes, headquarters, hospitals, and other places where it is definitely known that delivery can be made.

(g) Forwarded special-delivery mail. Special-delivery mail that is forwarded is not entitled to special delivery at the second office, unless a forwarding order had been given by the addressee at the office of original address in advance of the arrival of the mail. Registered mail will not be forwarded without authority as explained in Part 47 of this chapter. [26 F.R. 11594, Dec. 6, 1961, as amended at 30 F.R. 8622, July 8, 1965]

§ 56.5 Undelivered mail.

Special-delivery mail is not delivered in receptacles, left under the door, or delivered a second time if the mail bears a specific request that it be returned to the sender if prompt delivery cannot be made. Special-delivery mail that cannot be delivered is treated the same as other undeliverable matter. [26 F.R. 11595, Dec. 6, 1961]

§ 56.6 Acceptance by letter carriers and

messengers.

Letter carriers, whether assigned to delivery or collection duty, and specialdelivery messengers, will accept prepaid matter bearing a special-delivery stamp handed to them on their trips, and deliver it to the proper clerk immediately upon their arrival at the post office. Letter carriers will not turn over local

Sec.

58.3 Fees. 58.4 Mailing. 58.5

Delivery.

§ 58.4 Mailing.

§ 58.2

Class of mail to which applicable.

Any mailable matter of no intrinsic value on which postage at the first class rate has been paid will be accepted as certified mail. This does not exclude articles of a nonnegotiable character and other matter which would involve a cost of duplication if lost or destroyed. The mail may be sent by air on payment of the required postage. Special delivery services are available on payment of the prescribed fees. Penalty and franked mail may be accepted as certified mail if the fee is prepaid. Official matter of the Postal Service may be sent as certified mail without payment of the fees. Business reply mail must be fully prepaid with postage and fees.

[27 F.R. 6980, July 24, 1962]

(a) Payment of fees and postage. The fee and postage may be paid by ordinary postage stamps, metered stamps, or by permit imprints.

(b) Points to which mailable. Certified mail may be addressed for delivery only:

(1) In the United States, its Territories and Possessions.

(2) In the Canal Zone.

(3) Through Army-Air Force (APO) and Navy (FPO) post offices.

(4) Through the United Nations, N.Y. post office.

(c) Where to mail. Patrons may mail certified mail at the post office, branch or station or give it to a rural carrier. It may also be deposited in mail drops in post offices, street letterboxes, or any other receptacles for firstclass mail, provided the specific directions in paragraph (d) of this section are followed.

(d) How to mail. Obtain blank certified mail coupons (no charge) at the post office or from rural mail carriers. Also obtain blank return receipt forms if needed. Following is the procedure:

(1) Enter on the receipt portion of the certified mail coupon the name and complete address of the person or firm to whom the mail is addressed.

(2) If return receipt is wanted check block on the mailing receipt to show the fee and endorse the article on the address side near the certified mail endorsement "Return Receipt Requested" or "Return Receipt Requested Showing Address Where Delivered." See § 58.3. The mailer must enter the certified mail number on the return receipt card, address it to himself, and attach it to the back of small envelopes and on front of packages and large envelopes if it will not cover the address. If the mailer desires that the return receipt show the address where the article was delivered, there is a block at the top of the form which must be checked by him.

(3) Attach to the envelope sufficient postage stamps to pay for the certified mail fee, first-class postage, return receipt fee, or special delivery fee.

(4) If a postmarked sender's receipt is desired, the sender must attach the certified mail sticker to the address side of the article and present the article and the completed coupon to the postal employee. If requested to do so, the postal

employee will show on the receipt the time the article was accepted for mailing. If given to a rural carrier, he will return the postmarked receipt to the patron.

(5) If a postmarked receipt is not desired, the sender must attach the "Certified Mail" sticker to the address side of the article, detach his receipt, and mail the article. He must mark his receipt to show the date.

(6) If the sender desires to restrict delivery of certified mail to the addressee or someone named by him in writing, he must endorse the mail "Deliver to Addressee Only" or "Deliver to Addressee or Order."

(e) Firm mailing books. If an average of three or more letters is mailed at one time, the sender may use mailing books, Form 3877a, "Firm Mailing Book for Registered, Registered COD, and Certified Mail," which are furnished by the Postal Service without charge, or specially printed mailing bills. A Series of numbers will be furnished the sender. The sheets of the books become the sender's receipts. If the sender wants the firm mailing bills receipted by the Postal Service, he must present the books with the articles to be mailed. He must also obtain at his expense a stamp for endorsing the certified letters, or he may have his envelope overprinted with the endorsement. The endorsement must be a facsimile or proportionate enlargement of the official endorsement shown in § 58.1. Following are instructions for use of firm mailing bills:

(1) Insert the word "Certified" in the space provided at the top of the bill.

(2) The mailer must endorse and number the letters. If return receipt or special delivery services are requested, mark the letters "Return Receipt Requested, Return Receipt Requested Showing Address Where Delivered," or "Special Delivery." Prepare and attach return receipt to the back of the envelopes with the receipt side showing.

(3) Show on the bill the number of each article and the name and address of addressee.

(4) Enter only the amount of fees paid for return receipts.

Sec.

(5) Affix necessary postage to the articles.

(6) The accepting employee will count the items, receipt the bill for the total number, indicate time of mailing, if requested, and return the bill to the sender. [26 F.R. 11595, Dec. 6, 1961, as amended at 29 F.R. 2757, Feb. 27, 1964]

§ 58.5 Delivery.

(a) Procedure. Mail for delivery by carriers is taken out on the first trip after it is received, unless the addressee has requested the postmaster to hold his mail at the post office. Certified mail not restricted in delivery will be delivered to the addressee or his authorized representative. Certified mail marked "Deliver to Addressee Only" will be delivered only to the person addressed. If marked "Deliver to Addressee or Order" delivery will be made to the addressee or to a person designated in writing by the addressee to receive the mail. Delivery rules are the same as for registered mail. See § 51.9 of this chapter.

(b) Notice of arrival. The carrier will leave a notice of arrival if he cannot deliver the certified article for any reason. The article will be brought back to the post office and held. If the article is not called for or its redelivery requested, it will be returned at the expiration of the period stated by the sender, or after 15 days if no period is stated.

(c) Rural delivery. Rural carriers will deliver certified mail to the addressee's residence if it is not more than 1/2 mile from the route and if there is a passable road leading to it. Otherwise, a notice will be left in the addressee's box so that he may either meet the carrier at the box on his next trip, or call at the post office for the mail.

(d) Star route delivery. Star route carriers will deliver certified mail if required by the contract, but delivery will be made only at the patron's box or along the route.

(e) Delivery records. The delivery records will be held for 2 years. At the end of that period the records will be destroyed.

[26 F.R. 11596, Dec. 6, 1961, as amended at 28 F.R. 1509, Feb. 16, 1963]

PART 61-MONEY ORDERS

61.1 Issuance of domestic money orders.

Sec.

61.2 Issuance of international money orders. 61.3 Cashing money orders. 61.4 Inquiries.