Can USPS open Priority Mail? (all you must know)
As U.S. citizens, we expect a certain level of privacy, whether from the tech companies that collect our data, our next-door neighbors, or even the content of our emails.
Well, you probably know that some mail classes are protected by the Fourth Amendment and anyone other than the recipient needs authorization to open them. But does that include Priority Mail? If you want to know, keep reading!
Can USPS Open Priority Mail in 2022?
The U.S. Postal Service can open mail sent through the Priority Mail mail class without a warrant in 2022. The Fourth Amendment covers only mail sent via First-Class Letter and Package. If packages or envelopes look suspicious, USPS employees or USPS agents are legally free to open them.
To learn more about how the USPS processes the inside of a package, how often mail is X-rayed, why a package is suspicious, and more, keep going!
Does USPS look inside the package?
There are several steps before a USPS employee or a United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) employee can open them.
But Postal Service employees are on the front lines, providing the first line of defense against dangerous packages or packages that may contain illegal substances.
In fact, they’re specially trained to notice when something doesn’t look or sound out of place (more on that below).
Likewise, some post offices have special machines that can detect chemicals.
So if Priority Mail ships a box that looks strange or sounds an alarm, it can and will be opened on the spot by a Postal Service employee.
However, most packages are never opened because the vast majority of people are sending innocuous items.
On the other hand, for those that do contain contraband or illegal items, the box will be opened if the postal employee notices it.
Going a step further, if it’s a first class letter or parcel, then there’s another step – getting a search warrant. However, USPS won’t get one first without hard evidence.
USPS X-Ray Priority Mail?
The USPS uses X-ray Priority Mail because it x-rays all mail — randomly, but more often near or near large cities.
It’s just because there’s a lot of parcels going through places, people are more likely to do bad things.
Because of this practice, you may want to write Do Not X-Ray on your package to prevent prying eyes.
However, this would definitely backfire as the USPS would be more suspicious of what’s inside.
Also, if your package is sent by First-Class Letter or Package, then Postal Service does not require warranty.
What makes a package suspicious to the USPS?
Let’s take a look at some of the signs that lead USPS to suspect that packages that meet the following criteria need to be opened and investigated:
- It says “No X-rays”
- Looks lighter than it really is (drug dealers put extra weight in the package) or is unbalanced or oddly shaped
- Has a handwritten address, no return address
- was mailed from a zip code different from the return address status
- Has a false return address
- Tape all around, top to bottom
- Excessive postage
- powdery substance is leaking
This list is by no means comprehensive, but it should give you a good idea of the obvious things postal workers look for as they work every day.
What happens if your USPS package is confiscated?
If your USPS package is seized, whether you sent it with Priority Mail, Retail Ground, or Parcel Select, and it contains items that cannot be mailed, you may receive a call from the post office.
The sender will be notified by the post office for packages with only errors (such as old labels that are not marked).
At this point, they will have two days to pick up the package or make any corrections.
For example, let’s say your package is confiscated and opened, and a non-mailable (but not illegal) substance, such as some aerosols or perfume, is found inside.
In this case, the more likely outcome is that you will have the package returned to you with a warning.
However, if your package is confiscated and contains illegal substances – drugs, prescription drugs, firearms, etc. – you’re in trouble.
What if USPS finds a drug in a package?
If USPS finds in your package a drug you choose to ship through Priority Mai, for whatever reason, you could face felony charges.
(USPS is a federal agency, so using them to commit a crime is a felony.)
However, the trouble you’re having depends on a few different factors.
For example, if this is your first infraction and the amount is small, you will be in far less trouble than a repeat infraction and you look like a smuggler you intend to sell.
In some cases, USPS works with local law enforcement to conduct entrapment operations.
For such an operation, an agent would dress up as a postman and deliver the package while being watched, waiting for someone to come and pick it up.
The reason the USPS does such a sting is that not only is it illegal to send drugs through the mail, but it is also illegal to receive them.
So you and your payee could lose out on this, and if there are enough of them, you could face serious jail time and hefty fines.
To learn more, you can also read our posts on USPS Priority Mail Cubic, USPS Surepost vs. USPS Priority, and How Long Does USPS Priority Mail Express Take.
in conclusion
USPS can and will open Priority Mail without a warrant because it is not protected by the Fourth Amendment like First-Class Letter and Package.
If USPS receives any suspicious information and then finds an item that is not mailable, you may receive the item. However, if the USPS finds anything outright illegal, you could be jailed and fined.
