Are postal carriers allowed to throw out mail
In the United States, postal carriers are generally not allowed to throw out mail. According to the United States Postal Service (USPS) regulations and policies, postal carriers are responsible for delivering mail to the correct address and ensuring that it is delivered to the intended recipient.
Here are some guidelines from the USPS:
- Delivery obligation: Postal carriers are required to deliver mail to the correct address, even if the recipient is not present to accept it. (Source: USPS Publication 34, "Domestic Mail Manual")
- Undeliverable mail: If a piece of mail cannot be delivered due to an incorrect address, the carrier is supposed to return it to the post office for further processing. (Source: USPS Publication 34, "Domestic Mail Manual")
- Refusal of delivery: If a recipient refuses to accept a piece of mail, the carrier is supposed to return it to the post office and notify the sender. (Source: USPS Publication 34, "Domestic Mail Manual")
However, there may be situations where a postal carrier might not deliver a piece of mail, such as:
- Undeliverable as addressed: If a piece of mail is undeliverable due to an incorrect address, the carrier may not deliver it. In this case, the mail is usually returned to the sender.
- Refusal of delivery: If a recipient refuses to accept a piece of mail, the carrier may not deliver it.
- Safety concerns: In rare cases, a postal carrier may not deliver a piece of mail if they believe it poses a safety risk, such as a package containing hazardous materials.
It's worth noting that postal carriers are not authorized to throw away mail without following proper procedures and protocols. If you suspect that a piece of mail has been lost or destroyed, you can contact the USPS customer service department to report the issue and request assistance.