---
type: "LegalText"
title: "39 U.S.C. § 5604"
description: "Fines on ocean carriers"
jurisdiction: "us"
corpus: "united_states_code"
kind: "code_section"
title_number: 39
title_name: "POSTAL SERVICE"
chapter_number: "56"
chapter_name: "TRANSPORTATION OF MAIL BY VESSEL"
section: "5604"
citation: "39 U.S.C. § 5604"
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/s5604"
source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-39/usc39.xml"
source_hash: "ce08960a75e87c1bcebdeae817c4a69d8bc9c5c4d3f72657eeb5bdc5ff55929a"
raw_snapshot_hash: "ccea35969be78d053165f1170bf2aa826a68e5b4dea1fe3356d8a09e86e19a65"
text_hash: "6cf3b65637e8aaf18b64ce9659c153fdf9b8b63f6d823e3d436179d3486528e3"
retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
confidence: "official"
tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
---

# 39 U.S.C. § 5604 - Fines on ocean carriers

## Text

The Postal Service may impose or remit fines on carriers transporting mail by vessel on routes extending beyond the borders of the United States for—

(1) unreasonable or unnecessary delay to the mails; and

(2) other delinquencies in the transportation of mail.

(Pub. L. 91–375, Aug. 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 773.)

## 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.