---
type: "LegalText"
title: "39 U.S.C. § 5003"
description: "Establishment of post roads"
jurisdiction: "us"
corpus: "united_states_code"
kind: "code_section"
title_number: 39
title_name: "POSTAL SERVICE"
chapter_number: "50"
chapter_name: "GENERAL"
section: "5003"
citation: "39 U.S.C. § 5003"
status: "current"
release_point: "119-100"
release_date: "2026-06-26"
source: "official"
source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc39@119-100.zip"
source_identifier: "/us/usc/t39/s5003"
source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-39/usc39.xml"
source_hash: "19d41fcfd3801179be8cda3d115702575ed786c3fc0d502ca9ca6f91d902b063"
raw_snapshot_hash: "ccea35969be78d053165f1170bf2aa826a68e5b4dea1fe3356d8a09e86e19a65"
text_hash: "7687aa271ad4d2e6f070a7e2215d1f8a6e64709fd68589a5a3684d047f14c242"
retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
confidence: "official"
tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
---

# 39 U.S.C. § 5003 - Establishment of post roads

## Text

The following are post roads:

(1) the waters of the United States, during the time the mail is carried thereon;

(2) railroads or parts of railroads and air routes in operation;

(3) canals, during the time the mail is carried thereon;

(4) public roads, highways, and toll roads during the time the mail is carried thereon; and

(5) letter-carrier routes established for the collection and delivery of mail.

(Pub. L. 91–375, Aug. 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 766.)

## Notes

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective DateSection 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.