Reply #42: In case anyone was interested... [View All]

[warsager]

I was at my local post office today. I asked the postal clerk if they are allowed to go through personal mail. He said, postal clerks can only open 'media mail'. Then he said that the postal inspectors can open anything that they suspect contains something illegal and they don't have to get a warrant or notify anyone at all. He said something like, it's 'their' mail, and they can go through anything they want, if they think it's illegal. (I'm paraphrasing). I asked him if that had always been the case,and he said, yeah.

He was very casual and un-phased by it, although he did seem a little surprised at first that I was asking.

I half wanted to jump onto the counter and turn around at the long line of people and scream, "Did YOU HEAR WHAT HE JUST SAID?? He said they can open your personal mail whenever they want if they 'think' its illegal!! DO ANY OF YOU CARE??!!"

But then I wondered if this is a right I never had and always just assumed I had? Is it true what he said?

So instead I reluctantly handed him my package and walked out, quietly hoping it will get to where its going unopened. It's just a birthday gift, but if someone notices it's suspicious squareness, well....fugedabodit