---
kind: "section"
citation: "18 U.S.C. § 1736"
title: "18"
title_heading: "Crimes and Criminal Procedure"
number: "1736"
heading: "Restrictive use of information"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/18/1736"
units:
  - "Part I — Crimes"
  - "Chapter 83 — Postal Service"
---

# §1736. Restrictive use of information

- (a) No information or evidence obtained by reason of compliance by a natural [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) with any provision of [section 3010 of title 39](/usc/39/3010.md), or regulations issued thereunder, shall, except as provided in [subsection (c)](#c) of this section, be used, directly or indirectly, as evidence against that [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) in a criminal proceeding.
- (b) The fact of the performance of any act by an individual in compliance with any provision of [section 3010 of title 39](/usc/39/3010.md), or regulations issued thereunder, shall not be deemed the admission of any fact, or otherwise be used, directly or indirectly, as evidence against that [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) in a criminal proceeding, except as provided in [subsection (c)](#c) of this section.
- (c) Subsections [(a)](#a) and [(b)](#b) of this section shall not preclude the use of any such information or evidence in a prosecution or other action under any applicable provision of law with respect to the furnishing of false information.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 91–375, § 6(j)(37)(A), Aug. 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 781.)

## Notes

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section effective on first day of sixth month which begins after Aug. 12, 1970, see section 15(b) of Pub. L. 91–375, set out as a note preceding section 101 of Title 39, Postal Service.