---
kind: "section"
citation: "39 U.S.C. § 605"
title: "39"
title_heading: "Postal Service"
number: "605"
heading: "Searching vessels for letters"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/39/605"
units:
  - "Part I — General"
  - "Chapter 6 — Private Carriage of Letters"
---

# §605. Searching vessels for letters


An officer or employee of the [Postal Service](/usc/39/102.md?p=1) performing duties related to the inspection of postal matters, when instructed by the [Postal Service](/usc/39/102.md?p=1) to make examinations and seizures, and any customs officer without special instructions shall search vessels for letters which may be on board, or which may have been conveyed contrary to law.


## Source credit

(Pub. L. 91–375, Aug. 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 728.)

## Notes

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section effective July 1, 1971, pursuant to Resolution No. 71–9 of the Board of Governors. See section 15(a) of Pub. L. 91–375, set out as a note preceding section 101 of this title.