Is it illegal open someone else's mail

In the United States, it is generally illegal to open someone else's mail without their permission. This is considered a violation of their privacy and is protected by federal law.

The United States Postal Service (USPS) has strict rules against opening or tampering with mail that does not belong to you. According to the USPS, it is illegal to:

The USPS has a specific law, 18 U.S.C. § 1702, which makes it a federal crime to open or tamper with mail that does not belong to you. This law states that:

"Whoever, with intent to defraud or to commit any felony, or to conceal the contents of the same from the authority of the United States, or to obtain money or other property by means of false or forged identification, or to commit any other felony, opens, takes, or secretes, or attempts to open, take, or secrete, any letter, postal card, package, or other mail matter, or any package or other matter, or any article or thing, which is being transported or has been transported by the United States Postal Service, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both."

Additionally, many states have their own laws that prohibit the opening or tampering with mail that does not belong to you. These laws may carry penalties such as fines, imprisonment, or both.

It's important to note that there are some exceptions to this rule. For example, law enforcement officials may be authorized to open or seize mail as part of an investigation or to prevent a crime. Additionally, mail carriers may be authorized to open or inspect mail to ensure it is properly addressed or to prevent the delivery of illegal or harmful materials.

In summary, it is generally illegal to open someone else's mail without their permission, and it is protected by federal and state laws.