Mailing periodical publications without prepayment of postage
Official text prohibited actmental stateif conditionpenaltylegal term
Whoever, except as permitted by law, knowingly mails any periodical publication without the prepayment of postage, or, being an officer or employee of the Postal Service, knowingly permits any periodical publication to be mailed without prepayment of postage, shall be , or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.
History: (Added Pub. L. 86–682, §7, Sept. 2, 1960, 74 Stat. 705 (PDF, 24 MB); amended Pub. L. 91–375, §6(j)(36)(A), Aug. 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 780 (PDF, 12 MB); Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, §330016(1)(H), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147 (PDF, 52 MB).)
Simplified explanation
It is a federal crime to knowingly mail a periodical (like a magazine or newspaper) without prepaying postage, unless the law allows it. Postal employees who knowingly allow this are also covered.